FRIDAY,
VOLUME 114, No.06
Cutlass girls granted bail Page 4
www.thevincentian.com
62 amputations Page 5
Victim’s mother traumatized Page 17
EC$1.50
La Croix couple threatened Page 18
First murder for 2020 Page 28
NO NEW TAXES
- SOME FEES INCREASED It is anticipated that the budgeted cost recovery ratio is expected to settle WHILE THE 2020 BUDGET, the second to at nine percent. be delivered by Minister of Finance Some of the increased fees include Camillo Gonsalves, contained no new medical report fees from $25.00 to taxes, there were a number of moderate EC$40; out-patient surgery fees for increases in existing fees/charges, some private patients from $30 to $36; new fees, and some concessions in maintenance and nursing fees (per construction and tourism related areas. day) from $75 to $82.50 for private The 2020 Budget of $1.2 billion is patients; operating theatre surgical the largest budget ever tabled in operations and anesthetic and gases Parliament in this country, and have moved from $250 to $275 for government has projected a $2 million major procedures, from $175 to current account surplus at the end of $192.50 for intermediate, and from the day. $100 from $110 for minor surgeries, for private patients. Increase in existing fees Collars, crutches, splints and walkers will see an increased rental As it relates to increases, medical charge, and fee of $200 levied on all fees are prominent. Minister bodies kept after 24 hours, unless kept Gonsalves said that in 2019 the fees for medical and or legal reasons. collected at the Milton Cato Memorial Other areas that will see increases Hospital (MCMH) as a percentage of include passports. For persons 16 the amount spent at that institution years old, a passport that cost $100.00 alone, amounted to eight percent. in 2019 will now cost $120.00, and one “Clearly, a cost recovery ratio of for adults will move from $200 to eight percent is quite low. In an effort $250.00 to make a marginal improvement to this ratio, the government proposes New charges other increases moderate increases to several hospital, laboratory and dental fees paid by Among the new charges are boat private patients,” he said. licences as follows: 10 to 30 feet EC$25.00 and above 30 to 60 feet Below: A number of Civil Servants EC$50.00; and a fisher’s ID card and turned out to hear firsthand what the health certificate - EC$5 fee each. Minister of Finance might have had Chainsaw operators will now pay in store for them. an administrative fee of EC$15. by DAYLE DA SILVA
Poultry farmers will face increased prices for chicks, with a broiler chick costing $2.25, an increase of 25 cents, and layer chicks moving from $4.50 to $5.00 a chick.
Reduced tax and concessions Those in the construction industry can look forward to a further reduction in the excise tax on heavy trucks. In 2019, the excise tax was
reduced from 60 to 55 percent. The 2020 budget makes provisions further reduction from 55% to 30%. This, the Minister said, was to facilitate the expected boom in the construction sector, particularly with a number of hotels down for construction here, and to address what some contractors have said is a potential shortage of heavy trucks. Continued on Page 3. Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves delivering his second Budget Address, which reflected the largest budget ever tabled in this country’s Parliament.