OPPOSITION Senator Vishnu Dhanpaul and Independent Senator Anthony Vieira, SC, questioned what benefits could be obtained from higher duties on alcohol and tobacco which were proposed in the 2025/2026 budget.

They raised these questions during their respective contributions to a debate on five motions before the Senate on October, to approve orders to implement these duties.

Dhanpaul recalled Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo estimating government could receive revenues of approximately $800 million from these duties, when he presented the budget in the House of Representatives on October 17.