Days after President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that all taxes on sanitary products for women would be removed if the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) goes back into office, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo clarified that the government will engage the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on removing the tariffs that are in place now.
“There is a tariff and a VAT… the tariff is a Common External Tariff so to remove you have to notify CARICOM,” Jagdeo explained at his weekly press conference.
Jagdeo, who is the General Secretary of the governing PPP/C, also said the government will engage CARICOM on removing this tariff from sanitary products for elderly persons and children.
This Common External Tariff- or CET for short- is a duty imposed on goods imported from outside CARICOM. Many sanitary products, such as pads, liners, and pampers are produced outside of CARICOM states and imported into the region.
Next PPP/C gov’t to remove taxes on sanitary products
President Ali made the announcement that all taxes would be removed from sanitary products at the PPP/C re-election rally in Bath Settlement, Region Five last weekend.
“We have decided in our manifesto that we are going to remove all taxes on sanitary supplies and other basic supplies for women’s health. We are investing in our women, in our sisters, mothers, grandmothers,” the President said, adding that “We are investing because we believe in you.”
This clarification provided by the Vice President was sought after some individuals noted that Value Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary products was removed in 2017.
Jagdeo clarified that while VAT was removed, there are still other taxes (the tariff) in place.
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