Minister of Culture The Hon. Winston “Gypsy” Peters definitely wants to seek the best interest of the Trinidad population, when he says that as a measure to help boost the local economy and keep carnival local, he intends to put in place punitive taxes on persons or companies who import costumes into Trinidad and Tobago already assembled.
The Minister claims it is too expensive for the man in the street to play mas, and he wanted Trinidad to be a net exporter of carnival, not an importer.
This article is not in any way designed to condemn the Minister of Culture, for I genuinely believe he has the national interest at heart, but certainly, is short on advice from his technical staff at the Ministry.
I would attempt to look at the merits and demerits of this proposal so you the reader can make an informed judgment in this mater:
Merits:
1. Short-term employment will be generated by persons who will make
the seasonal costumes.
2. Hopefully, the skill of wire bending etc. will return etc.
Demerits:
1. Trinidad and Tobago does not produce the materials to make
costumes. Everything will have to be imported.
2. The cost of shipping assembled costumes vs. materials will be
relatively the same.
3. The cost of labour will be 30 to 40 times higher in Trinidad and
Tobago to produce one costume.
4. Trinidad does not have sufficient factories or the available labour or
cost efficiencies to produce these costumes in time for distribution.
5. Setting up a factory just to sew costumes is not adding value to the
process. There are other people who can produce for a fraction of
the cost, even with expensive freight from China and India of almost
TT$40,000.00 per container, it is still far cheaper to produce outside,
including import costs, pay duties, Vat, wholesale markup, and then
retail mark up.
6. The duties proposed must be within a framework of international law
and convention or practice. The rules of anti dumping do not apply,
so it will be difficult just to wake up and create 2000% duty on a good
or series of goods. How is customs to interpret the law for something
defined as a costume as opposed to something that is not designated
a costume?
7. The market always adjusts to suit the situation.
8. The cost to play mas is not in the costume, but the management,
security, food, drinks, entertainment, DJ’s, licenses, doctors, handlers
which masqueraders have become accustomed to on Carnival Monday
and Tuesday.
9. Masqueraders in the main do not want to play mas with items that are
cumbersome or uncomfortable and as such have opted for the bikini,
short pants and beads. It is more comfortable and easier for them to
move around, less burden, generally.
10. Mas is affordable in Trinidad and Tobago, depends on what band you
play in, and what you could afford. Unreasonable expectation causes
a lot of the problems. There are bands for half or one third the price
of the Premium Bands such as Tribe or Island people. So for this
reason, it is myth rather than fact that mas is unaffordable.
11. Premium bands appeal to a particular audience who can afford the
luxury of an all inclusive highly organized and professionally
managed band.
12. Cheaper bands can do a lot more to appeal to the lower middle class
market by giving them tips such as registering carts which carry food
and drink that they can make and bring with them thereby reducing
costs. We will not see the prices of Tribe coming down to meet the
man in the street.
13. There are specialty bands that follow more traditional mas bands and
there is a market for their product. Carnival has become a niche
market with everyone carving up their own. Those persons who
played with Wayne Berkley, or even now with Brian Mc Farlane will not
necessarily play with Tribe or Island People.
14. Trinidad is already exporting the carnival, which is intellectual
property, the know how and skill, make it a success, including the
Hon. Minister who travel abroad frequently to perform at different
shows.
This is just mere advice for the Honourable Minister, that before he moves to make such recommendations, please take a closer look at what are the impacts. Maybe next time we could discuss further the reasons why import substitution failed in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider world. I do not see people going back to the days of being held to ransom by some factory owner.
You be the judge of the situation and see whether there is any merit in making costumes in Trinidad and Tobago, which will end up costing more and still not reducing the price of Carnival for the man in the street as the Minister claims.
Notwithstanding, I am open to anyone who can give me genuine reasons to impose such a heavy tax on imported costumes.
I await your responses.
Respectfully Submitted,
David A.M. Fraser
Blog: FRONTLINE By David Fraser http://davidamfraser.blogspot.com
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Figure 1 David A.M. Fraser
David two things...your comments at # 12 are offensive, class base...which speaks to the merit that only upper 'class' persons can have proper management and origination...rethink what you are saying and secondly with a tax on 'those bands" ie. Tribe and IP the the person who can afford to play with them will still afford to play with then and the entire nation will benefit for the tax as revenue...
ReplyDeleteYour points are noted. I am not part of the politically correct movement PCM, si in fact the wealthier bands have far superior organisation. Poorer or cheaper bands do not have the financial resources to pay for consultants who will think about everything and implement it. Taxation on the rich is class warfare, and there is nothing unique about our Carnival that if we price ourselves too high that Jamaica with a growing upper middle class carnival will not captivate on. I say this because they can offer a weekend with all inclusive, transfers and the experience of a life time.
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