Lines formed outside the Government Administration Building on Pond Island to pay motor vehicle tax up to Tuesday, after controls had been announced from April 5. Although police are reported to be on a go-slow, these motorists were apparently not taking any chances.
A few will no doubt still do so and face whatever consequences. In addition to a fine, this could involve the inconvenience of having their car seized and needing to cover the towing cost plus the annual tax to retrieve it.
Readers may wonder why anyone would let things come to that. After all, payments are possible since the beginning of 2023 and driving around without proof of such undetected for another nine months seems hard to get away with.
The new number plates arriving late is hardly a valid excuse not to meet one’s recurring fiscal responsibility. This is about public road users sharing the burden to maintain them.
Granted, the money does not go directly into a separate fund designated solely for that purpose as often suggested. Nevertheless, at the end of the day government collects the revenue and finances infrastructural upkeep from its general means.
What some might not realise is that for those on a tight budget it can be a significant hurdle following the holiday season, when many tend to spend more. That’s among reasons they were given the entire first quarter to comply.
A possibly helpful idea could be to introduce payment for six months instead of only the full year, as is the case in other parts of the Dutch Caribbean. Curaçao has a different colour sticker for both categories.
This would allow vehicle owners to spread the cost into two time-frames. However, there are potential downsides.
The change implies an extra administrative burden halfway through the year and receiving part of the income later. It could promote evasion too, because a shorter period makes that less risky, although proof of the most recent payment will still be required when paying for a next term to remain street-legal.
The island’s tourism economy is also quite seasonal and a lot of persons have fewer means at their disposal during the summer, while parents with school-going children must cover the related fees, uniforms, etc. at the start of each new academic year in early August. It’s probably best if people just accept the unavoidable and learn to budget for such.
