November 26, 2009
Caribbean to ask UK’s Brown to ease airfare tax
Caribbean leaders say they intend to challenge British Prime Minister Gordon Brown over a new airfare tax during a summit this weekend.
Caribbean Community Secretary General Edwin Carrington says the bloc’s members are angry over the UK measure, which aims to help cut carbon emissions.
The tax charges passengers according to how far they fly. It increases the levy on economy seats to the Caribbean by nearly 13 per cent this year and 50 per cent in 2010. Fares to the US are taxed at a lower rate.
Carrington called the tax a “friendly fire” attack on Caribbean tourism, already suffering from the economic downturn.
Caricom leaders are to meet with Brown during the Commonwealth summit in Trinidad.
