UWP says government is misleading nation over refund on imported barrel concessions:

The executive of the United Workers Party has called for an explanation over a proposed refund from government to people who were charged the Value Added Tax (VAT) on barrels imported under the concessionary period.

According to a UWP statement, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Jadia Emmanuel, during the live call in programme, News Maker Live on DBS last Wednesday night claimed that a press statement was issued to inform Saint Lucians a refund was available. However, the UWP said it has not seen any information on the press secretary’s Facebook page, nor any of the social media outlets, which are managed by the press secretary to prove her claims.

“When the error was exposed in the last sitting of the House dated February 11, 2014, the prime minister blatantly spoke untruths claiming that he had just confirmed with the comptroller of customs that the observation made by the Member of Parliament for Castries South-East, Guy Joseph was a lie – yet, the same day, just moments after, a memo dated February 11, 2014, coming from the Office of the Prime Minister was sent to the comptroller of customs advising him of the error,” the UWP statement indicated.

The UWP believes had it not been for Joseph’s “impeccable observation”, many Saint Lucians who had been charged full duties on barrels cleared at customs after January 31, 2014 would have never received a refund.