(from left) Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Hugh Riley; Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy and Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin in the UK House of Commons at a press conference yesterday to give an update on the region’s lobby against the UK Air Passenger Duty.
APD fight continues
8/10/2012
By Nadia Brancker
“The manner with which the Caribbean has been treated in terms of the APD tax is unfair and we will ardently continue to push for a fair system.”
This assertion from the Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, as he gave an update on the Air Passenger Duty (APD) yesterday at Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Complex. The tax on flights out of the United Kingdom has not augured well for Barbados, which is dependent on the UK market for a substantial amount of visitors.
Sealy believes, “The lobbying has helped in delaying some of the increases and also our voice is heard in many different areas of influence. We are aware that we will not get the APD abolished and we understand the need for taxation, but we want a fair way for it to be applied. It is important that we continue to keep the fight. If the APD does increase again in November, this will be a challenge for the Barbados tourism industry.”
He was joined at the press conference by Mark Pritchard, Member of Parliament for The Wrekin in the UK House of Commons. The British MP is visiting Barbados for the first time to truly understand why Barbadians are lobbying. He stated that his trip has further intensified the need to lead the charge for a fair system.
He explained, “I understand the UK government’s position. I recognise that with the deficit we have to raise revenues as do many other countries and taxation is a key part of that. But, having said that, the APD as it currently stands is not a level playing field and it should be reviewed in a way that alters it.
“Also, with the potential to increase in November there is a short window of opportunity with those that share my view to remind the Treasury of their own admittance of the impact of the APD on the Caribbean. I will continue to do what I can also with other colleagues that have the similar view to lobby for APD to be changed.”
Pritchard argued, “It is important to do all we can to get the UK Government to recognise that whilst revenues do need to be increased, whilst we need to do as much as we can for the environment, there needs to be a holistic approach of the impact on APD on the Caribbean. This is a commitment now made by someone who has now visited this part of the world and understands the plight even more indepth.”
