Fewer barrels shipped from diaspora in 2016/2017

This country received fewer barrels from the diaspora in the 2016/2017 period than it did in 2015/2016.

Every year, the Government gives duty-free concessions on barrels received over the Christmas period and this time around, that period ran from Monday, November 14, 2016 until Saturday, December 31, 2016. The duty free period was later extended to January 10, 2017.

The numbers show that in 2015/2016, 15,306 barrels were registered, while the concessionary period in 2016/2017 saw 15,235 barrels, 71 fewer than 2015/2016.

The concessionary period on barrels was announced at the annual Independence Rally, which last year was held on Thursday, October 27.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves had stated that persons were allowed to import a maximum of three pieces at a reduced rate, while all additional pieces would have been charged at the regular fee.

This is the 16th consecutive year that Vincentians had duty free concessions on barrels and boxes imported during the Christmas season.

During the 2014/2015 concession period, some 18,000 barrels were cleared, while between January 1, 2015 and January 5, 2016, 34,140 barrels were cleared.