Book Industry Association of Jamaica concern over GCT

[Lazie]

The Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ) is calling for the government to roll back the General Consumption Tax (GCT) now being applied to books and other printed material, which are not educational or religious.

The association is claiming that the decision runs counter to the education ministry’s push for literacy and reading.

In 2003 and 2005 the BIAJ had successfully lobbied for a reversal of the decision of the then Peoples National Party administration to place a tax on books.

The BIAJ chairman, Franklin McGibbon points to the likely long term effects of a repeat move by the current government.

Mr McGibbon said the association will continue to lobby with the government as it seeks to improve the country’s literacy levels.

Included in the government’s list of items which will attract GCT are computers that are not approved by the Education Ministry for schools.

The Finance Ministry said it will also be enforcing the application of GCT on services supplied by persons who are not residents in Jamaica.

http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=8467

[Lazie]

Rescind GCT on books and computers


Jamaica Observer


Posted: 4/28/2009 8:37:13 AM

OUTGOING president of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association, Christopher Kennedy, yesterday called on the government to re-think the wisdom of imposing the General Consumption Tax, (GCT), on certain types of reading material, computers and computer parts.

Kennedy, made his call at the association’s annual general meeting at the Terra Nova Hotel, hours after a release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated that the tax would not be imposed on textbooks, religious books and educational material approved by the Ministry of Education.

The announcement that GCT would be imposed on the items was made by Finance Minister Dudley Shaw, during his presentation to parliament on Thursday.

But Kennedy was adamant that taxing any form of reading or educational material was a backward step.

“We already have too many challenges to educate our people to make this retrograde step of imposing GCT on reading material. As a matter of fact we should be expanding the list to include educational toys, books on CD, DVD’s and learning aids for children with disabilities,” Kennedy said.

Computers and periphery equipment have been placed on the GCT list during the tenure of the previous People’s National Party Government but was removed after howls of disapproval members of the public.

Despite an announcement by Government that GCT would not be imposed on computers used in educational institutions, Kennedy advocated for computers and computer related equipment to be completely exempt from the tax.

“The main reason for exempted GCT on these items in the first place was the fact that we need to advance our people in terms of technology and as such we wanted to make computers and computer technology easily available to our people and our businesses,” Kennedy said.

[Lazie]

Suh a who release a list with items that will attract GCT? Sanitary napkins, toilet tissue, solar panels etc. Ever since dem put Real Business with Independent Talk ... damn .. why mi nuh surprise that those 2 got their hands on the list? Now, we a find out, nothing nuh guh suh.