Make the vehicle duties structure equitable

Aug 18, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Our vehicle duties system, which charges citizens based on the year and engine size, defies logic on multiple fronts. Why do we have higher rates than many nations that are economically less privileged? This isn’t about the pace of development; it’s about fairness and common sense.

Of course, we want to ensure a flow of revenue and manage environmental impacts, but there’s a glaring imbalance when higher-end vehicles, predominantly driven by those who are exempted from these duties, become a symbol of a certain social class.

Making vehicles more affordable can stimulate economic growth by expanding the market, which may compensate for lower individual duties. Enhanced safety features in quality vehicles can lead to safer roads and fewer subsequent costs from accidents. Such a reformed system would also promote equity, allowing all citizens, irrespective of their economic background, access to quality transport. Addressing the argument that we lack road capacity for more vehicles, it’s essential to note that even if someone owns multiple vehicles, they can only drive one at a time.

Also, the other argument that reducing the duties and taxes on vehicles isn’t feasible for our economy seems more and more brittle upon closer inspection. Health and safety should not be a privilege of the elite; they should be accessible advantages for all Guyanese.

Furthermore, it’s bewildering how a 4×4 pickup truck with the same engine size would attract different rates based purely on its number of doors. While the claim is that 2-door pickups, due to their alleged agricultural purposes, have a lower duty, the reality is starkly different. Many purchase these 2-door pickups and use them predominantly for personal needs, sidestepping the higher duties. Such anomalies and inconsistencies don’t merely represent minor oversights; they are indicative of a deeper systemic issue that cannot be ignored.

Every Guyanese deserves a fair shot at owning a quality, safe vehicle without being financially burdened. By refining our vehicle duties structure, we can uphold equity and potentially even bolster our revenue if more citizens invest in quality vehicles. We don’t need oil wealth to rectify this; we need clarity, fairness, and an earnest reconsideration of our current protocols.

Shazaam Ally

Executive Member

The Citizenship Initiative

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