00:00As it pertains to adding taxes on luxury electric vehicles which cost $400,000 or more,
00:06the Automotive Dealers Association doesn't have an issue there,
00:10saying it will not impact middle to lower income earners.
00:14The association's president, businessman Visham Baboy, is however pleased
00:18that the age has moved from three to six years for used vehicles that can be imported.
00:23It's welcome news for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,
00:25so compounded with the removal of the dollar per gallon on super fuel is again more welcome news
00:32because most of these vehicles will be using the super fuel, yes, the super gasoline,
00:38which is very good news.
00:39It's the first time in a lot of years, I mean, I can remember any time fuel prices being reduced in this country.
00:47Baboy tells us the move will allow people to be able to more readily afford vehicles,
00:51which he sees as a necessity given what he believes is an unreliable public transport system
00:57and the lack of safety in the country.
01:00I just want to have an idea of, you know, how that impact ripples down.
01:05Well, the note which might sell for $120,000, $125,000 and $35,000,
01:10I would estimate that the price might go down to about $85,000.
01:14While the age for importation of T-vehicles like pickup trucks will be 10 years,
01:19Baboy indicates that there is a need for dialogue with the trade ministry
01:23as dealers are prevented from importing those under their regular licenses
01:28and require a specific license from the ministry.
01:32In terms of crime...
01:33They put a heavy hand on crime because that is the only way the citizens of this country
01:37would really feel safe and they would be getting something that would protect them
01:44because you can't have the criminals playing, having mayhem with the citizens of the country
01:50and going their own way and you have the low-abiding citizens suffering.
01:55So crime, I really want to see something happen with crime that will reduce crime
01:59and make the country safe again.
02:01And Baboy says it is also important to regulate the distribution of foreign exchange
02:06which continues to be a long-standing problem facing the country.
02:10He doesn't believe that the increase in fees to have containers examined at the port
02:14should have an impact, saying it is presently $225 and will now be $1,050.
02:22That is a very negligible cost because you are not looking at a container,
02:26you are looking at the goods in a container.
02:28If you have goods in a container value of $500, a million dollars,
02:32you would tell me that you are going to pass $500 on to the consumers.
02:37Alicia Boucher, TB6 News.
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