A pattern has emerged, the PNC instead of raising revenue via economic growth, they now resort to tax and spend.
Airport tax to squeeze visitors, vat tax to squeeze the consumers, vehicle transfer tax to squeeze the drivers, environmental tax. This is their vision for moving Guyana forward. Kill industries and squeeze the people.
The jackasses who supported the PNC/AFC were like pitbulls during PPP time complaining about taxes, now they quiet as church mouse.
To transfer ownership and/possession of a motor cycle, applicants will now have to pay $5000 as opposed to the previous $500.
To transfer ownership of vehicles outside that category, applicants will now have to pay $25,000 instead of the previous $1000, or two per cent of the selling price of current valuation; whichever is greater.
The Bill also introduced fees for the issuance of driving permits issued to licensed drivers residing abroad and introducing fees for issuance for letters of authenticity for applicants requiring verification of their drivers’ licence. These transactions will now cost $2000 each.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan supported these measures, noting that it is a “win-win” situation and that the common man will favour these changes.Billion-dollar industry
Opposition parliamentarian Nigel Dharamlall said these developments send a “bad omen” for motor vehicle users of the country and he accused the government of creating a billion-dollar industry for itself at the expense of taxpayers.
Dharamlall outlined that with the number of fees increases and introductions since the Administration’s inception 19 months ago, they have raked in billions of dollars from Guyanese.
Disposable income
He told the House that there could be an argument had to increase the fees from their current level, but any such increase must be done gradually, noting that the APNU/AFC Administration has introduced some 47 additional taxation measures in the 2017 Budget.
The Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) on New Year’s Day announced the “upward movement” in prices for its products nationwide, citing rising prices on the world market. The new price structure took effect January 2 and it was disclosed that the gasoline price jumped by $12.00 to $190.00 per litre while kerosene and gasoil prices increased by $5.00 per litre, respectively.
The increase in fuel prices comes against the backdrop of Government’s announcement during the National Budget 2017 that the Value Added Tax (VAT) would be included on electricity bills above $10,000 from this month.
Increase the fee for a passport from $4,000 to $6,000
* The reduction in the Personal Income Tax rate from 30 per cent to 28 per cent for individuals earning less than $2,160,000 per annum or $180,000 per month and a new rate of 40 per cent applied to the incomes of individuals earning in excess of $2,160,000 per annum. (this increase is meant to punish the business community)
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan announced that the cost of acquiring a new passport has moved from GYD$4,000 to GYD$6,000.
Jordan said the departure tax has been increased from GYD$2,500 to GYD$3,500- a rate that applies to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.
