Janet Silvera, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
SET TO lose millions on dollars on airport transfers, members of the Jamaica Union of Travellers Associations (JUTA) have been warned not to sit on their laurels depending on the promises of politicians.
The warning came from Wayne Cummings, president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Thursday shortly after Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, told the contract carriage operators he was optimistic their tax problems would be resolved.
Dr. McNeill later admitted to The Gleaner that it was not the Government's intention for transportation to attract General Consumption Tax (GCT).
However, this has been the case since October 1, when the new tax on the tourism sector took effect. All-inclusive hotels have been forced to pay tax on transfer packages.
TAX EXEMPTION
The junior tourism minister said a technical team from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Tourism met on Thursday and agreed that something could be done for the contract carriage operators, the largest transportation company in the country.
Stating that he could not speak on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Dr. McNeill said the consensus of the technical team was to grant the sector an exemption from paying the new tourism tax.
He was, however, not willing to make any commitments, instead he recommended that JUTA meets with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Government technical teams next week to resolve the problems.
BASKET TO CARRY WATER
"Dr. McNeill is one of the most honourable of politicians, but he may have been given basket to carry water, so don't give up thinking this issue is going to be resolved, the only way we are going to get some response is when you show your numbers," Mr. Cummings told the operators.
