Business
Bermuda: Citizens present Premier with petition opposing increase in duty
Bermuda Premier., Paula Cox
More than 3,400 people in Bermuda have signed a petition against a rise in import duty on personal items and presented it to Premier Paula Cox.
The concerned citizens are warning that all Bermudians – citizens and residents – will be hurt by this measure which they see as robbing them of free choice and having the dangerous side effects of endangering businesses and jobs.
The cover letter attached to the petition, which was submitted to Premier Cox this week, reads in full:
“Please find attached a petition on behalf of Bermudians and Residents for No Duty Increase. With over 3,400 individuals signing this petition, we the people of Bermuda urge the Government to hear our voices and not to increase duty on personal imports. We further urge you to read the comments on the back of this petition, which are over 98 percent against any increase in the current duty structure.
“Duty increases will hurt Bermudians and residents, remove our right for free choice, injure businesses, lower business volume and activity and lead to layoffs and business closures. It will lessen competition and lead to increased prices in Bermuda and consequently increased inflation.”
The letter continues: “On behalf of all Bermudians and residents on our Island, please accept this petition that represents a large cross-section of our population, urgently appealing to the Government not to increase duty on personal imports.”
The signatures on the petition were collected between January 23 and February 10. The petition comes months after the Premier announced that Government would increase the duty on personal items being carried into the country through the airport by travellers from 25 percent to 35 percent. In a press conference, she announced the increase as one of several moves intended to support the local retail sector by encouraging residents to shop locally.
The move was embraced by retailers, but criticized by Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards, who argued that it was a declining number of guest workers that was doing the most damage to the sector.
