As efforts continue to protect the environment and safeguard the health of the Grenadian people, government is finalising plans to introduce a ban on the importation of vehicles exceeding 10 years, while simultaneously implementing a 50% duty and tax concession on the importation of electric and hybrid vehicles.
The initiative announced in the 2020 Budget by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Dr the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, will be implemented on 1 July 2020.
The protection of the environment is among the top priorities of the Government of Grenada as it seeks to lower carbon emissions and reduce the burden on the Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority to dispose of and manage the growing number of derelict vehicles that are abandoned alongside public roadways or transported to the landfill which is now close to full capacity.
Grenada has seen an increase in the importation of vehicles in recent years, with the manufacturing dates that exceed 5 years. While this has realised additional revenue from duties and taxes and downstream businesses in parts and services, policymakers believe its long-term impact on the economy and environment seem to outweigh the immediate benefits.
Ministry of Finance
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Does Grenada charge any tariffs to car makers selling their product in Grenada.
If not, they should and use that money to clean up the derelict vehicles, possibly acquire a crusher and then sell the metal. Old cars should not be put in landfill.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34324772
The time period between the announcement and implementation is ridiculous. With the pace that things move in Grenada and with the covid-19 situation this policy should be amended.
And yes, the age of the vehicle should be 5 not 10 years.
Correction 15 years
It seems that whomever comes up with such policies, laws, or whatever it is called is running on empty. They do not provide any research, facts, or data to support why they are doing what they are doing except superficial statements about the environment or just plain vagueness.
They able to do this because Native Grenadians have beaten-down so badly that they just sit by or get drunk and continue to accept mistreatment doled out from anybody and everybody including the people they voted for to protect them.
If we care so much about our environment, why are destroying our coast line by encouraging foreigners to construct houses/resort/whatever within such areas?
If we care so much about our environment, why are we not charging people for dumping garbage on our streets, in our rivers, and in the ocean?
If we care so much about our environment, why are allowing people to construct houses almost any and everywhere on this island?
The people who come up with these policies, laws, or whatever don’t seem to understand that it is possible for the odometer of a 10-year old imported car to read 5000 miles while that of a 3-year old imported car could read 200,000 miles?
This is why we have to look at who is going to benefit from these measures to know if they are genuine. From the looks of things right now, the main benefactors would be the car deals and not Native Grenadians.
It would have been nice if the brilliant “Policy Makers” or someone else would provide some measure of the number of vehicles over 10 years old now imported so one could get a sense of how many people are likely to be affected. Also, the lost government Revenue and the plan to replace same although I noted in an earlier announcement by the PM a reference to “Reserves” – which, if real, would be an unexpected but very welcome surprise.
Stripped, old vehicles make excellent fish habitats and, with the decimation of reef, this would be welcomed by our finned, fellow creatures (instead of filling the Land Sites).
Electric Vehicles are actually a totally bogus solution to the so called problem of “Climate Change” which, in itself, is a bunch of nonsense and wasted resource allocation. Note. Electric Vehicles are only affordable with major Government Subsidies, Grants, etc. Is there room in the “Reserves” for this also?
This is not to help Indigenous Grenadian and it has nothing to do about the environment. This is to protect Car dealers. Car produced in the last 10 – 15 years ago produce almost the same amount of emissions as the one produced currently.
In is not understood how this will help Native Grenadians. This is a signal to car dealers to charge us more or take advantage on us.
Transportation is an essential service. These small squeeze up buses don’t solve our needs. They run wherever, whenever, and however they want. What our Native Grenadian Government is doing will not us.
Import duty rates should be dropped period. People have an affordable budget for the purchase of a vehicle, and with import duties/taxes/fees approaching 200% it means people are required to buy older vehicles to remain in budget.
Also, are there any plans to build charging infrastructure for these electric vehicles? They need rapid charging stations to be effective, else the charging time is immense. I would also be concerned about plugging my expensive car into some of our household wiring connected to the Grenlec network. You just know somethings going to blow
This has nothing to do with the environment. This is to protect Mr. Steel and the other car dealers. These car dealers believe that it is their god given right to siphon as much money as possible from Indigenous Grenadians. This is why they overcharge us for sub-standard vehicle with no features. Some of these vehicles even look used under the disguise of new.
Now our Indigenous Grenadian Government is willingly assisting in their mistreatment of us. Vehicles as old as 15-20 years are not known to cause significantly more pollution than current vehicles
Our Indigenous government wants people from everywhere to come Grenada and get rich and wealthy on the backs of Indigenous Grenadians. Time to wake up people! This must stop otherwise our children and grandchildren will have no future. This is not about government. This is about the future of our people.
It should be 5 years old or less . Not 10