Anguilla will soon have what in realty will be a floating restaurant which is intended to be moved around the island’s exotic coastline. It will be serving visitors from the upscale hotel resorts and villas, as well as members of Anguillian communities.
In anticipation of such a distinctive hospitality facility, called Aqua Lounge, now seen anchored in Road Bay, Sandy Ground, the Government of Anguilla has granted duty-free concessions to its developers – Mr. Davon Carty of Anguilla and Mr. Ivan Berry, a non-national. They are both also involved in the entertainment industry in Anguilla and outside the island, and are promoters of Anguillian rising singer and entrepreneur, Deana Mussington.
The particular Customs Duty and Tax Exemption (Motion) Regulations, 2021, was introduced in the Anguilla House of Assembly on Tuesday, February 9, by the Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ellis Webster.
In leading the debate, he said in part: “We want to encourage local investment and entrepreneurship. In this case, we have a very innovative idea that will diversify tourism, our main industry. We find that other spinoffs and ancillary services, connected to the tourism industry, are being developed to continue to keep Anguilla at the forefront of this industry. This idea of an aqua lounge, a floating restaurant, I may say, is a very innovative concept. It is one that will certainly attract curiosity and hopefully, with that, attract business.”
The customs duty and tax exemption period is February 4, 2021 to February 5, 2022. The revenue loss to the Government is EC$191,627.
The motion received the overall support of members – on both the Government’s and Opposition’s side of the House of Assembly.
