Mediaboss Marketing

21 February 2012

The Isle of Man's Department of Infrastructure has reminded taxpayers of the online portal set up in November 2011 to ease the process of annual vehicle duty payment.

The taxation of motor vehicles in the Isle of Man is solely imposed via vehicle registration duties, which must be paid each year a motor vehicle is used or kept on any public road in the Isle of Man.

The online portal, which is in its pilot year, will allow around 70% of island taxpayers the opportunity to renew their licenses online. Uptake so far has been limited according to the island's Minister of Infrastructure, David Cretney, with 8% of licenses renewed in December done so online.

Cretney said: ?I would encourage as many people as possible to try the new facility. An initial registration is required, but thereafter the procedure is straightforward.?

Those eligible to use the scheme will be issued with a special code alongside their vehicle duty reminder to allow taxpayers to sign up to the scheme. Payment is otherwise available by the traditional methods, by post or via the Post Office.

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Isle Of Man Highlights Vehicle Tax Portal

Argentina slipped to their third straight defeat, going down by 29 runs to Guernsey in a rain-affected match at Padang, which was eventually reduced to 29 overs a side. The start was delayed by rain and the Argentina opening bowlers, led by Pablo Ryan, made early inroads, taking two top-order wickets to reduce Guernsey to 53 for 4. The complexion of the innings changed when Ross Kneller came out and blasted 86 off 54 balls, with six sixes. He took the score to 213 for 7 after rain reduced the game to 42 overs a side. It was reduced further to 29, following another rain interruption when Argentina were struggling at 54 for 3. Grant Dugmore top scored with 42 but lacked support as Guernsey, led by David Hooper, chipped away at the wickets.

At the Indian Association Ground, Cayman Islands coasted to an eight-wicket win over Bahrain in another rain-affected encounter. Bahrain were put in to bat, and like Guernsey, were struggling at the start before they were revived by the middle order. Adil Hanif made a patient 56 off 86 balls to steady the innings, before Tahir Dar made an unbeaten 60 off 50 balls to take the score past 200. He hit six sixes in his knock. Rain intervened 17 overs into the chase, when Cayman Islands proceeded steadily to 50 for 1. However, Duckworth Lewis reduced the game to 21 overs, leaving Cayman Islands needing 30 off the last four. Ramon Sealy and Omar Willis ensured they reached the target with three balls to spare.

Malaysia recorded their third-straight win, beating hosts and neighbours Singapore by 27 runs at the Kallang Ground. Malaysia's opening duo, R Madhavan and Shafiq Sharif, made half-centuries but the rest of the batsmen failed to measure up, stumbling to a combined bowling effort. Sharif fell for 48, but Madhavan remained unbeaten on 77, off 141 balls. The next highest score was 13. Chasing 185, Singapore were in trouble at 117 for 5 in 30 overs when rain interrupted play. Their target was reduced to 161 from 39, and they eventually folded up for 133.

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Wins for Malaysia, Guernsey and Cayman Islands

INLSA

KZN premier Zweli Mkhize leads King Goodwill Zwelithini into the Pietermaritzburg Royal Show Grounds for the opening of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature. Picture: Zandile Nsuntsha

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini on Monday criticised Congolese expatriates for their protest march to the National Assembly last week, saying their actions undermined the South African government.

Hundreds of Cape Town-based Congolese expatriates marched to Parliament, protesting against SA’s recognition of President Joseph Kabila following the recent fiercely contested elections in that country.

Officially opening the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, the king said that he was disappointed by the protest.

He added that SA was home to many African expatriates who had left their home countries for various reasons and that the SA government’s gesture in accommodating the refugees should be seen as commendable.

However, he said, the march by the Congolese “cast” the SA government in a bad light.

“Now that they have been accommodated here, they have turned into radical political activists and their behaviour reflects badly on the image of South Africa,” Zwelithini said.

“I do not accept anything that seeks to undermine the image of South Africa.

“Their behaviour,” he said, “is unacceptable.

“We respect our leaders and we discourage people who protest and criticise our government and president,” said the king.

Leonard Mulunda, spokesman for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, which organised the march, said yesterday that their aim was not to undermine the SA government but to highlight their feelings about affairs in the DRC.

Respect

“We respect the South African government and President Jacob Zuma,” he said.

“But when we feel that South Africa is not playing a good role in the African continent, we need to raise our voice and tell South Africa that what you did is not what the Congolese people were expecting from you,” Mulunda said.

“We want (DRC president) Joseph Kabila to get out so that all Congolese people can return to their country.

“We always thank South African people for the way they live with us.

“They are good people,” said Mulunda.

Last month, Zwelithini came in for criticism after remarks of his were interpreted as being homophobic.

However, the royal house and government officials later said the king had been misquoted.

Addressing the provincial government yesterday, Zwelithini said all that politicians should ensure that this year became the year of peace, harmony and co-operation in bringing about service delivery.

The king also condemned corruption, saying that it was a major contributor to the government’s inability to deliver service at a faster pace.

He called for a war against the poaching of rhinos, saying that syndicates had killed more than 800 rhinos for their horns during the last three years.

“Without any preventative measures, these numbers are set to increase,” he said.

“It is true that war is immoral, but a war against the poaching of rhinos is worth it,” Zwelithini added. - The Mercury

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Zwelithini lashes out at expats

Expats facing the squeeze on rents

Karen Ha

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Hong Kong remains the most expensive city for expatriates to rent high-end residential properties, according to a study by a human resources consultancy.

Demand for rented accommodation is being driven by the increase in expatriates posted to the SAR over the past two years, the study by ECA International finds.

Hong Kong is more expensive than New York and London.

"This comes at a time when a significant proportion of the local population, unable to buy property due to steep increases in property prices, is looking to rent instead," said Lee Quane, regional director for Asia at ECA International.

"This has put renewed pressure on the already limited supply of rental property here, resulting in large rent increases."

The compilers of the study collected data in September and tallied rents from 130 cities around the world.

Rent for an unfurnished three- bedroom apartment in Hong Kong, it is claimed, averaged US$11,813 per month (HK$91,606), which was up 15 percent from 12 months earlier.

Expatriates usually look for homes in Mid-Levels, Repulse Bay and Happy Valley.

In high-end districts such as The Peak, the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment was US$19,900 per month.

In contrast, rents in Tokyo - which follows Hong Kong - average US$9,450 a month.

Singapore ranks third in Asia and ninth worldwide - the same as last year.

As for the mainland, Shanghai continued to rank sixth in Asia and 18th globally while Beijing slid to 26th from 24th globally though keeping its eighth place in Asia.

"Continuing increases in international assignments into China are creating an ongoing demand for rental property," Quane said. "With house prices continuing to fall there, many would-be buyers are looking to rent until the housing market bottoms out.

"These factors, along with municipal measures and tougher lending criteria, have driven an increase in demand for rental accommodation."

Globally, rent for a three-bedroom apartment rose to US$3,080 from US$2,750 on average.

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Expats facing the squeeze on rents