Air Passenger Duty to the Caribbean

IMPORTANT NOTICE: ACTION NEEDED!

The Caribbean has been lobbying the UK government over the fact that the tax on flights to the Caribbean has increased so much in the past two years, but also because the way that the tax is now banded means that the tax on flights to Hawaii is less than the tax to the Caribbean. This is damaging the Caribbean tourism industry but also making it much more expensive for the Caribbean community in the UK to visit friends and relatives.

We are coming to a really important stage now as we understand that the Treasury is looking at how it might revise APD and we know that there is a budget statement due on 23 March. Obviously in these difficult economic times, the treasury wants to maintain the same level of tax, but we have been arguing that APD should be redesigned so that the Caribbean is in the same tax band as the USA - £60 no more!

At a meeting with a group of MPs last week, they shared with campaigners the news that they are not aware of significant numbers of letters being sent to MPs with large Caribbean communities in their constituencies. Furthermore they said that the only way to get real traction with this issue is for the Caribbean community to start writing to their MPs. This is because it has to be seen as a UK domestic issue as opposed to a foreign policy issue.

Based on this we are trying to support as much as possible the drive to encourage the Caribbean Community to write to their MP. As such, DFID have drafted a letter and developed a fact sheet so that people can find out more. If each MP gets just 100 letters, they will take notice and start to listen! Stop complaining & get writing!

If you are able to circulate the letter to those who you know in the community and encourage them to write to their MP, it would be really great.

It’s time to do your bit and let's stop being a silent voice!