Parliament Passes More Acts

Details

Politics

Thursday, 31 May 2012 02:29

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - The Tax Administration and Procedure Act, the Embarkation Tax (Repeal) Act, and the Passenger Facility Charge (Repeal) Act, 2012 have all been introduced by Finance, the Economy and Public Administration Minister Harold Lovell, and passed in the House of Assembly after three unopposed readings.

This kicked off the second session of the House of Assembly sitting on Wednesday.

All clauses were individually adapted without opposition from the ALP benches and without amendment.

Airport Authority (Amendment) Act

The session continued with Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Culture Minister John Maginley introducing the first reading of the Airport Authority (Amendment) Act, 2012, which puts the Airport Administration Charge into effect.

This Act comes in keeping with the new taxation Bill passed earlier. Finance and the Economy Minister Harold Lovell seconded the motion.

Opposition MP Robin Yearwood said the amendment Act is yet another unsupervised yardstick given to the Airport Authority.

But Attorney General Justin Simon has clarified that the Airport Authority will administer the Airport Administration Charge and the Act governing the charge is for a fund established under the Finance and Administration Act.

The constitution, he said, speaks to all monies collected by tax to be paid into the Consolidated Fund, and Parliament has long approved that special funds be created secondary to the consolidated.

He said, with this, there would be accounting and parliamentary presentations on how the funds are used.

“It is protected. We have to ensure that there is proper accounting… that is enshrined in the legislation,” Simon said.

Tourism and Aviation Ministry Minister John Maginley said the Act was compiled through consultation with the relevant stakeholders, and noted that the new act simply moves the funds collected by the Airport Authority under the Airport Administration Tax Act passed earlier.

The Act was passed with minor amendments.

Dog Registration (Amendment) Act

Further, Agriculture Minister Hilson Baptiste tabled the Dog Registration (Amendment) Act, 2012. He said it is expected that within the next few months, all dogs in the city would be registered, and police officers would have the authority to impound unclaimed animals currently littering the streets.

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The initiative requires $150,000 to get started, and Baptiste said fundraising activities have already started. Cabinet has discussed the issue. A kennel for the dog impound is currently under construction. This, he said, is meant to be a “dog sanctuary” and not a place to slaughter the animals.

Opposition MPs Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin and Robin Yearwood both stood in support of the piece of legislation. But Yearwood went as far as to recommend that it moves to outlaw pitbulls.

The Act went through committee stage and was read for a third time and passed with no adjustments.

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