I found it very interesting that the International Airlines Travel Association (IATA) is complaining about the increase in departure tax from Jamaica, but I did not hear them complaining about the US$15.00 cost of transporting each bag across America and Canada. If a person is travelling internationally and makes a stop in Canada, then is going on to the USA while they are allowed two pieces of free luggage when they travel outside the USA and Canada, once they arrive in those countries, those same pieces of luggage become US$15.00 each. It is OK in their eyes for the USA and Canada to tax their travellers but not Jamaica? Why is this?

- Sonia Ellis, sas 50@yahoo.comAlberta, Canada

Outrageous departure tax!

The sudden announcement of an immediate increase in local departure tax, from approximately US$10 to US$18, is nothing short of outrageous. Imagine the impact on a family of four or more travelling!

This might be OK for many Jamaicans who seem to give the Government a free hand to do as it pleases. What they have done by this measure, however, is to give tourists and many Jamaicans living abroad yet another reason not to travel to Jamaica. Why go to Jamaica when you can visit Cuba and pay 25 Cuban pesos (US$1) departure tax?

Slowly, Jamaica is putting itself in a class by itself one of the highest departure taxes in the world. Its neighbour, the impoverished Haiti, charges U$30, but anyone who has ever seen the extreme poverty there, gladly pays this tax on leaving, as if making a charitable contribution to help a cause.

Governments must be more resourceful and creative. One obvious option is to broaden the tax net to ensure more persons, especially self-employed (businesses and professionals), are forced to pay income tax, or face stiff penalties, or face the courts. To increase the departure tax suddenly by almost 100 per cent without fear or remorse, implies the Government of Jamaica is not only desperate, they must be also bankrupt in ideas!

- P. Chin, chin p@yahoo.comOntario, Canada