Duty free barrels again from November 9 – PM

For the 15th consecutive year, Vincentians will have duty free concessions on barrels and boxes imported during the Christmas season.

Also, some 150 persons will be hired to help absorb the impact of the increased hustle associated with the Yuletide season at the Port, while some 4,500 persons will be hired as part of the Government’s Christmas Road Cleaning Programme.{{more}}

These announcements were made last Tuesday, October 27 at Victoria Park, when Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves delivered his Independence Day message.

The duty-free concessions on the importation of Christmas barrels will begin on Monday, November 9, 2015. The PM did not say when the concession period will end.

Statistics show that during the concession period, between 12,000 and 13,000 barrels are usually cleared from ports Kingstown and Campden Park.

During the concessions period, households in St Vincent and the Grenadines are allowed to import a maximum of three pieces at a reduced rate. All additional pieces are charged at the regular fee.

Commenting on the port workers, the PM said that in a special short-term employment programme, some 150 persons will be instituted by the SVG Port Authority to “assist with the additional activity at the Port in the on-rush of the busy Christmas season.”

He also revealed that the annual Christmas Road Cleaning Programme will start shortly and will employ 4,500 persons in this short-term works programme at a cost of $3 million.