Grenada government removes duty on barrels

Grenada\'s government has re-introduced a duty free \"barrel\" initiative as part of a wider effort to ease the burden on persons affected by the rising cost of living, according to a report on www.cananews.net.



Under the initiative, taxes and charges are being removed on barrels containing mostly foodstuff from October 1 to December 31, Finance Minister Nazim Burke has announced.



As a result, each household in the tri-island state is being allowed a maximum two barrels under the initiative in which Government lost over a million dollars (US$370,370) last year.



\"I am pleased to announce the commencement of the duty free barrel initiative for a second year. Given governments commitment to do all that it can to ease the burden of all households especially the poor and vulnerable,\" said Burke, adding that the programme is being repeated despite significant decline in government revenues.



\"We are off the view that such a programme is still relevant today as it was in 2008 and we are committed therefore to try and ensure that we do nothing to try and make life more difficult for the ordinary Grenadian,\" he said.



At least 9,000 households benefited from the programme last year importing more than 11,000 barrels of food stuff mostly from North America.



Comptroller of Customs Carl Felix warned however that electronic items would not be exempted from taxes and duties and measures have been put in place to protect the programme from abuse.



The duty free Barrel initiative is among several pre-election promises by the 14-month-old Tillman Thomas administration to help cushion the effects of the global economic meltdown.