Anguilla: While presenting the Bill for passage on Monday last, Attorney General, James Wood, stated it is anticipated that the Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2012 will provide additional revenue to the Government of Anguilla in excess of $600,000 this year and over $680,000 in 2013, according to a report in the Anguillian.
Mr. Wood said the figures were according to information provided by Minister of Finance, Hubert Hughes. He pointed out that while the legislation was aimed at providing relief in some areas, to address social and economic difficulties, it was to create revenue for the Government of Anguilla to meet ever-increasing demands. Mr. Wood explained that the money would come from the amendments to the various fees and the implementation of a fee for driving instructors’ permits.
According to the Anguillian, the AG said a more comprehensive Bill to amend the Vehicle and Road Traffic Act is currently in the final stages after undergoing extensive consultation – “a process that began in February of 2010…That Bill, as instructed by the Vehicle and Road Traffic Reform Committee, proposes to make substantive and wide-ranging changes to the Vehicle and Road Traffic Act”.
“However, it was proposed by the Hon. Minister of Finance that this Bill, which contains the revenue measures…, should go forward as a separate Bill with all due expedition. The Bill has undergone extensive consultations both by itself and, also as I have mentioned, as part of the larger amendment Bill”, he stated.
Mr. Wood outlined the various details of the new drivers’ licence classification system provided for by the legislation which has been widely publicised. He said it also provided provisions regarding a new system of assigned personalised identification marks, and empowered Executive Council to make recommendations that fully articulate the assignment of those identification marks. That would include the manner in which applications for personalised licence plates would be determined and the power to auction the right to use any particular identification mark.
The Bill, which attracted a fair amount of debate in the House, was given its second and third readings and passed with a few amendments.
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