by Linda Straker
- Hurricane Beryl impacted Grenada on 1 July 2024
- 5 Statutory Rules and Orders in 24 October edition of Government Gazette
- Incentive packages went into effect on 22 July
Government has finally gazetted the incentives package that will provide economic support to homeowners following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on 1 July 2024. Though the entire country was affected, the hardest hit areas were the northern part including the Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Days after the hurricane, Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall announced several initiatives including the removal of duties on barrels, boxes or grates with household items; exemption of customs duties, and port charges exemption on personal items.
The 24 October 2024 publication of the Government Gazette showed that the finance minister signed 5 Statutory Rules and Orders (SR&O) that will make 22 July the date on which the incentive packages went into effect.
They are:
SR&O No. 30 of 2024: The Customs (Post-Hurricane Beryl — Customs Duties Exemptions) Order, 2024 provides for Duties exemptions for personal items. “A waiver of one hundred percent (100%) of customs duties is hereby granted to any person who imports the following items in a barrel — (a) food; (b) clothing; (c) small household appliances; (d) linen and bedding; (e) toiletries; (f) sanitary products for adults and children; or (g) household cleaning supplies, provided that such items are imported for personal use and not for commercial use, sale or exchange, and admitted as such by the Comptroller of Customs.”
SR&O No. 31 of 2024: The Customs (Service Charge) (Amendment of Schedule) Order, 2024 provides for “Items exempted from the payment of customs duties under the Customs (Post-Hurricane Beryl — Customs Duties Exemptions) Order, 2024, SRO No. 30 of 2024 for the duration of the exemption”
SR&O No. 32 of 2024: The Ports (Post-Hurricane Beryl — Port Charges Exemptions) Order, 2024; An exemption from the payment of the cargo-handling charges of $7 listed under item number 14 headed ‘Tailgating’ of Part V of the Schedule to the Ports Regulations is hereby granted to any person who imports the following items in a barrel — (a) food; (b) clothing; (c) small household appliances; (d) linen and bedding; (e) toiletries; (f) sanitary products for adults and children; or (g) household cleaning supplies, provided that such items are imported for personal use and not for commercial use, saleor exchange, and admitted as such by the Comptroller of Customs.
SR&O No. 33 of 2024: The Stamp (Post-Hurricane Beryl — Stamp Duties Exemptions) Order, 2024 provides for an exemption from the payment of the stamp duties for all the items qualified for exemption
SR&O No. 34 of 2024: The Environmental Levy (Post-Hurricane Beryl — Environmental Levy Exemptions) Order, 2024 provides for an exemption from the payment of the environmental levy of one percent (1%) of CIF value as set out in the Third Schedule to the Act and imposed on small household appliances listed as white goods under the Second Schedule to the Act, is hereby granted to any person who imports such appliances in a barrel, provided that such items are imported for personal use and not for commercial use, sale or exchange, and admitted as such by the Comptroller of Customs
SR&O No. 35 of 2024: The Value Added Tax Amendment of Fifth Schedule) Order, 2024 which provides for the import of items exempted from the payment of customs duties under the Customs (Post-Hurricane Beryl — Customs Duties Exemptions) Order, 2024 SRO No. 30 of 2024 for the duration of the exemption”
The waiver granted through the Hurricane Beryl incentives will be valid until 31 December 2024.
