 The Government of St. Lucia is providing more tax relief to residential property owners. On March 19, 2024, Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre secured approval from the Lower House of Parliament to amend the Land and House Tax Act to extend the tax amnesty on residential properties in St. Lucia. The amendment exempts local residential property owners and sports St. Lucia Inc. from paying property taxes for the financial year 2023. The primary purpose of this bill, Mr. Speaker, is to amend the Land and House Tax Act to grant a further extension of the special tax exemption on residential properties. The second aim, Mr. Speaker, is a waiver of the tax owned on all properties owned and managed by Sport St. Lucia Inc. Local residential property owners get to keep that money and collectively save millions of dollars. The Land and House Tax Amendment Act No. 11 of 2017 granted a three-year exemption in residential property owners for the calendar years 2017, 2018 and 2019. That was followed, Mr. Speaker, by the Land and House Tax Amendment Act No. 32 of 2019 and No. 7 of 2021, which provided a waiver of two additional years. The economic realities faced by everyday St. Lucia households continue to influence the policy interventions devised by the Prime Minister and his cabinet. Office of the Prime Minister