In response to François Huyghues Despointes’s article on the dock dues, Yan Monplaisir would like to contribute to the debate as well. Without questioning the very principle of this tax, he advocates for changes to how it operates, particularly regarding essential goods, support for local production, and transparency for consumers. We are publishing his arguments here as part of the ongoing debate on the future of the “octroi de mer” tax in Martinique.
Yan Monplaisir begins by welcoming the debate on the dock dues, which he considers «a crucial issue for Martinique’s economic future.» He hopes that the discussion will move beyond matters of principle to focus more on how this tax instrument might evolve.
For many years, he explains, he has been advocating precisely this idea of reforming the dock dues system, without, however, wanting to see it abolished.
In his view, this tax system retains one important feature: it is «one of the few tools for taxation and economic policy that is still largely in the hands of local elected officials.».
For Yan Monplaisir, the question is therefore not whether to do without this tool, but how to make better use of it for the benefit of the region.
Population and Consumption: A Relationship That Is Not Automatic
However, he expresses reservations about certain arguments put forward in the debate, particularly regarding the link between demographic trends and port tax revenue.
According to him, the decline in Martinique’s population does not necessarily lead to a corresponding drop in consumption. Consumption may continue to rise due to several factors, including changes in consumption habits, prices, and needs.
He therefore believes that an increase in port tax revenue is not, in and of itself, inconsistent with a decline in the population and that it can occur independently of any increase in tax rates.
Eliminate the port tax on essential goods
On one point, Yan Monplaisir advocates a position he says he has held for a long time: the elimination of the port tax on essential goods.
He believes that when applied to goods essential for daily life, this tax places a proportionally greater burden on households with the lowest incomes.
Since low-income households spend a larger portion of their income on essential expenses, the dock dues levied on these products constitute, in his view, a relatively heavier burden for them than for high-income households.
A direct grant to support the local agri-food industry
Yan Monplaisir also suggests taking a different approach to the support provided to Martinique’s agri-food industry.
Rather than basing this support primarily on taxation mechanisms for imported products, he believes that another solution could be explored: the allocation of an annual subsidy to the local agri-food industry, funded from the general budget.
The goal would be twofold: to support the competitiveness of local businesses and to enable them to help lower prices.
In his view, such a mechanism would also have the effect of spreading the burden across the entire community, rather than placing a significant portion of the burden on consumers, particularly those with the lowest incomes.
Include the port tax on receipts
Another proposal put forward calls for greater transparency regarding the actual amount paid in port taxes.
Yan Monplaisir suggests that the amount corresponding to this tax be clearly shown on consumers' invoices and receipts.
In this regard, he draws a parallel with VAT: since VAT can be identified on invoices, he believes it should be possible to apply a similar principle to the dock dues.
In his view, such a measure would allow consumers to better understand the breakdown of the price they pay and the portion attributable to these taxes.
«Let's ask ourselves, as a group, what we want to do with it»
After careful consideration, Yan Monplaisir does not, therefore, make the elimination of the dock dues a prerequisite.
Instead, it calls for a debate on its purpose and use: Which products should it cover? Whom should it protect? Who should bear the cost? And how can it contribute more directly to Martinique’s economic policy?
In his view, the challenge is to reform the dock dues system so that it once again becomes «a genuine economic policy tool serving the region.».
Philippe Pied
