~ Expensive cars should pay more ~
PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson will be asking parliament to hold off on the handling of the draft legislation to increase motor vehicle tax across the board by 18.8 per cent.
The legislation, submitted by the former UP-led government, is scheduled to be handled in a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament today, Thursday. Gibson said the proposed tax increase seems unfair and does not take the social aspect into consideration.
“There was no consideration given to the social aspect of that legislation in my opinion. Why should I, who drive an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle), pay the same as someone driving around in a little Volkswagen? There is something unfair there and that should be corrected and adjusted,” Gibson told reporters at Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing.
Gibson said the legislation had been prepared by the previous government to raise an additional NAf. 1.6 million for the 2016 budget. “I will ask parliament to hold this legislation so we can do it right and so we can build in the social measures to make sure that those, who drive in bigger, more expensive cars pay more and those who drive in less expensive cars, pay less.”
Gibson said it will take some time to incorporate this into the legislation, hence his plans to request parliament to hold off on it. “My goal is not to go through with that legislation tomorrow (today).”
