DLP calls on Government to remove tax from school supplies

he Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has urged the government to implement a VAT-free weekend on school supplies before the new school term begins in less than four weeks.

Walter Maloney, the DLP’s second vice president, highlighted the growing financial strain on workers, particularly those earning under $2 600 monthly . In a statement, he emphasised the challenges many face in providing basic necessities for their children.

“We must find a way to help them maintain their dignity,” Maloney said. He proposed that removing VAT on essential school items such as uniforms, shoes, bags, and books for a weekend would offer significant relief to struggling families.

“This will allow many workers, particularly those who are facing layoffs in the tourism sector, to save some money and better provide for their children,” he added.

Maloney painted a stark picture of the economic realities confronting many Barbadians, arguing that current wages are insufficient to meet basic living expenses.

“It is not a real wage. It is not a living wage that a lot of them are receiving,” he declared.

The DLP official described how workers are often forced to make difficult choices with their limited finances.

“When they take out the money for the rent, they take out the money for the other essentials—the pain, the bills—what is left to buy food becomes a burden. And that is all they can afford,” he explained.

Maloney also drew attention to the broader impact of these financial struggles on families’ health and well-being, particularly regarding dietary choices.

“It’s not that workers in this country have some love-hate relationship with foods that are not good for them. It is because they can only buy what their wages and salaries allow them to buy,” he said, noting that many families are compelled to rely on unhealthy, low-cost food options.

He stressed the importance of government action: “We must do this because it is the right thing to do. We care about our people, and we must find ways to ease their suffering.”

The Bahamas has conducted four VAT holidays for school supplies since 2020 including this year’s, which began on Sunday and will run until September 18 when the new school year begins. It was first introduced as a two-week tax relief measure to assist families with back-to-school expenses, allowing parents to purchase school supplies, clothing, and select food items without the additional VAT cost.