Darling Must Stop Unfair Caribbean Tax - Teather

5.25.22pm GMT Tue 27th Oct 2009

Sarah Teather is urging the Labour government to treat Caribbean passengers fairly

Brent's local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has today stepped up the pressure on the government to rethink the unfair Caribbean passenger tax

Joined by popular broadcaster Floella Benjamin, as well as representatives of leading Caribbean organisations, Sarah handed in a petition to Chancellor of the Exchequer including almost 400 signatures from Brent.

The Labour government plan to tax Caribbean passengers at a higher rate than those travelling to the West Coast of the United States, which is further away from the UK. But campaigners want the flight taxes based on the distance they travel and the carbon dioxide levels they emit. This would be fairer on UK residents with family in the Caribbean and better for the environment, too.

Sarah has previously joined a delegation of MPs meeting Bruce Golding, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, to discuss this issue, and has tabled a parliamentary motion urging the government to think again.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Hundreds of people in Brent have large families living in the Caribbean and need to be able to get to special occasions like weddings or a family Christmas. It simply isn't fair to charge passengers to the Caribbean more tax than those travelling to the West Coast of America.

"Flight taxes should be based on distance and carbon dioxide emissions, not on arbitrary and unfair boundaries drawn up by a government minister. Labour's plans don't protect the environment, they just protect American business interests.

"Taxing planes rather than individual passengers would be better for the environment and fairer for passengers on busy routes. I hope that the Chancellor will listen to the hundreds of people in Brent who have signed my petition and promise to do the right thing for Caribbean families in the UK.

"I urge all local people who feel strongly about this issue to sign my petition online at www.sarahteather.org.uk/petitions"

Broadcaster and Campaigner Floella Benjamin OBE said:

"The proposed Air Passenger Duty discriminates against every single member of the Caribbean community in Britain.

"It will hit families very hard indeed, to say nothing of its impact on the already hard-hit Caribbean tourism economy - a key source of revenue for most of the region".

Related Links:

Watch Sarah handing in petition.

Sign Sarah's petition.

Read Sarah's Parliamentary Motion.

Read Friends of the Earth policy on air passenger duty.