ANGUILLA--At the House of Assembly meeting on Thursday, June 28, the members agreed to reduce all property tax assessments by twenty per cent. In addition Chief Minister Victor Banks said there would be an additional ten per cent reduction if arrears and taxes were paid by August 31. Members pointed out that the government was doing this in order to assist members of the public who are financially strained at this time.
The Insurance (Amendment) Bill was withdrawn by the Chief Minister until further consultations are arranged, but the Public Salaries Amendment Bill for a temporary reduction in payments was agreed to by members. This will delay payments to public servants until such date that the Governor passes the Public Service Salaries Act in Council. Without this amendment, public servant salaries would have constituted a significant cost to government that cannot be met at this time, but Banks said the government would do its best to meet the deadline set for payment.
At the close of the meeting members offered condolences to several families who have incurred losses or who have members of their family receiving treatment overseas. The Chief Minister said Speaker of the House Leroy Rogers was currently in Cuba receiving additional treatment.
