Nationals of St Kitts-Nevis will benefit from reduction of VAT, more VAT days and college education grants

Basseterre, St Kitts, January 9, 2020 – The nation of St Kitts and Nevis will benefit in several areas including education, tax relief and duty free vehicles for first time owners when they elect the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) to office in the upcoming general elections.

Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas has reaffirmed the committments of the new NextGen SKN Labour administration to bring real support and relief to the people of the twin-island Federation.

“A NextGen SKN Labour Administration will put tax concessions directly in the hands of consumers and bring relief to households. We will extend the full discounted VAT day package not just at Christmas, but to three times a year – Easter, Summer and Christmas,” said Dr Douglas.

He told listeners the three days are aimed at alleviating the hardships felt by single mothers and large families to accommodate back to school shopping with spin-off effects on stimulating small businesses and large retailers.

Dr Douglas doubled down of his promise first announced during his response to the 2020 Budget last December 2019 “to will eliminate all VAT on taxes will – we will no longer tax our taxes!”

“We will also go one step further and reduced the VAT from 17% to 13%. This was something that we always had intended to do. A new NextGen-SKN Labour Party will also allow one duty free vehicle for every adult over the age of 18. Traditionally duty-free vehicles are automatically provided to government ministers, senior civil servants, select friends, and diplomats. Now we are saying it is time we extend the privilege to all our citizens and residents so that you are able to receive one vehicle once in your whole lifetime duty-free,” Dr Douglas reiterated.

“Once in a lifetime, a duty free car! I think the people of St Kitts and Nevis deserve at least that! We also intend to stimulate our small businesses by introducing our “Up from Zero” package of incentives – Zero tax on the company vehicle; Zero tax on office furniture or equipment needed to run the business and Zero Hassle – no application or application fees. We will dedicate a whole new Ministry, the Ministry of Small Business Enterprise that will be dedicated to protecting the interests of our small businesses,” said the former prime minister.

Speaking directly to the young people, Dr Douglas said a new Labour Government will make tertiary level education free of cost by eliminating tuition fees to the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC).

“We will make tertiary education more affordable, by reducing the interest rate on student loans at the Development Bank of St Kitts and Nevis from 9 percent to 5 percent. We will also provide a $25,000 grant to our high achievers to make it easier for them to pursue a university education,” said Dr Douglas, who added that the new Labour Government will also revolutionise housing, healthcare and agriculture.