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‘Punish duty-free cheats severely!’ – Hon Marlon A. Penn

-expressed concern for potential of abuse of the system by persons bent on gaining unfair competitive advantage
Representative for the Eighth District Honourable Marlon A. Penn called for penalties to be imposed on persons who seek to cheat the system of revenue with the introduction of duty free shopping for tourists. Photo: VINO/File
He was speaking Tuesday July 14, 2015 during the debate on the Tourist Duty Free System Act of 2015 in the House of Assembly during the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly. Photo: VINO/File
He was speaking Tuesday July 14, 2015 during the debate on the Tourist Duty Free System Act of 2015 in the House of Assembly during the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Representative for the Eighth District Honourable Marlon A. Penn called for penalties to be imposed on persons who seek to cheat the system of revenue with the introduction of duty free shopping for tourists.

He was speaking Tuesday July 14, 2015 during the debate on the Tourist Duty Free System Act of 2015 in the House of Assembly during the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly.

The legislation aims to establish duty free facilities as the Minister of Finance dictates, allowing tourists to make purchases of goods intended to be removed from the territory without the payment of customs duties.

“While I like a lot of the benefits of the Bill I have a few concerns Madam Speaker as it relates to the mechanism we are putting in place. I am concerned more specifically about abuse of the system. Many of the prohibited items [covered by the legislation] I am sure some of the merchants or business owners operating in the [duty free] space are also going to be operating outside of the duty free zone,” he said.

“We have to make sure that we put the necessary mechanisms in place so that we don’t have abuse of the system because you don’t want persons having an unfair competitive advantage to their other competitors in the economy so we have to be mindful of that and look with eagles’ eyes to what is happening in terms of the goods that are coming in,” he said.

He said that though well intended, the legislation could be subject to abuse and as such there must be the requisite mechanisms in place to punish or penalise persons who seek to do such.

He acknowledged that there is great opportunity in the facility and he called it a first step to a bigger plan for developing the territory’s tourism product.

 

14 Responses to “‘Punish duty-free cheats severely!’ – Hon Marlon A. Penn”

  • rattie (16/07/2015, 10:02) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yea marlon you make sense
  • dog (16/07/2015, 10:03) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    congratulations to at least one person thinking outside the box. Haven Site Mall here we come. Because the area is contained, I bet other entrepreneurs will suffer and not get a piece of the pie. Doesn't seem fair. Is that why volume and head count is supposed to make up for lost revenue? BVI is becoming just like every other port.
    • lmao (16/07/2015, 14:18) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      But I thought you all said Havensight was bad? Please pick a battle and stick to it. Who will lose a piece of the pie? What piece are the current businesses getting as we speak? What are they offering? YOu do know the park is being built because the cruise lines complained of not enough for their cruisers to do or spend on right? the ignorance.... If you were on a cruise, apart from taking a sailing trip or beach tour, what the hell else would you do or buy here?
      • dog (17/07/2015, 08:03) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        it's not about buying all the time. I have been consistent in my arguments. A contained shopping mall where visitors don't have to go into the community, limits retail to those outside the box. Those benefiting will probably be the international chains who can handle the rents. safaris have contracts with tour guides who have a set route and all get paid. Most travelers I know go to places to experience authentic culture, not contrived destinations with no identity and could be anywhere in the world. What have they learned about a territory? nothing.

        I personally want to see historic walking tours and brochures educating visitors about history, researched and written by students. I want to see plaques on old houses telling who built and lived there. I do NOT want to see shopping kiosks at historical sites. I want them to be kept clean but not fancied up. That is not authentic and the more you do to historic sites with foot traffic etc. the more damage will incur. Tortola is turning into "every island" while VG is dictated by the rich and famous. the two don't mix.
    • S.R. (17/07/2015, 07:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yea!! What happens to Craft Alive merchants? They seem to be thrown under the bus, when jus a few year ago it was all about Craft Alive. Were those million's misspent?
  • Tolian (16/07/2015, 11:19) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    lol hear we go again..... life imprisonment or death doesnt deter the crime of murder. Wa make you think this gon work? The big boys will be protected and those who not in their crew trying to scheme llke them will be the ones getting exposed.
  • tough love (16/07/2015, 15:36) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Sad state that the BVI doesn't have enough to attract cruise tourists outside of cruise park. The tourism board also needs to think outside the box. What is your differential factor for tourists outside of sailing and island tours. Tourism here suxx...Get up on it!!! People in Tortola belive that tourists are doing them a favor by coming here. If tourists don't come, you have nothing. You thrive off of tourism. You don't export anything; you import everything. Look to other islands surrounding you and figure out what you can do better. Put BVI on the map. WAKE UP PEOPLE YOUR ECONOMY DEPENDS ON IT!!!
  • CRITICAL EYE (16/07/2015, 16:04) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    I THINK IT IS UNFAIR TO HAVE DUTY FREE FOR ONLY THE PIER PARK AND NOT FOR THE REST OF WICKHAMS CAY INCLUDING THE POOR LITTLE VENDORS AT CRAFT ALIVE. IT MEANS THAT THE BIG BOYS GET THE PIE AND THE LITTLE ONES CANNOT SELL A T- SHIRT AT COMPETITIVE PRICES AS THEY ARE SADDLED WITH THE IMPORT DUTIES.

    THIS WILL OF COURSE ENCOURAGE SMUGGLING AS IT PUNISHES THE THE SAME PEOPLE WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT.
  • 123 (16/07/2015, 20:58) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    just pure talk!!
  • sense (16/07/2015, 22:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    With the amount the merchants will be paying for rent I doubt the prices will be good. Look at the stuff here that is duty free like chicken one of the most expensive things sold in the stores.


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