Opposition to move motion for removal of VAT on private education; expects AFC support

Shortly after the Government has stated that the 14% Value Added Tax (VAT) on Private Education will remain until 2018, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is attempting to move a motion in the National Assembly to change this.

According to a statement from the PPP, the motion will be tabled at the next sitting of the National Assembly which is slated for Monday, May 08, 2017.

The party notes the position adopted by the Alliance for Change (AFC) that it will canvass Cabinet to review the Tax imposed on private institutions and in some cases, passed down to students.

Leader of the AFC, Minister Raphael Trotman is quoted in sections of the media as saying that his party will push for a review of the tax. “The AFC is going to be pushing for a review and as I said we hope it comes sooner rather than later but at the end of the day we are a part of a coalition and are aware that sometimes pulling one string has corresponding consequences,” Trotman is quoted as saying.

As such, the PPP said it expects “that the AFC will vote in support of this motion.”

Parents, students and other members of civil society hosted their most recent protest yesterday (Wednesday, April 19, 2017) against the 14 percent VAT on private education. The concerned group took the peaceful protest outside of the Ministry of the Presidency, Vlissengen Road after having protested the Ministries of Finance and Education.

One parent told News Room that “we are still protesting because, by the time 2018 comes around, students in the private schools would have diminished at least by 30 percent.”

His argument was supported by other parents who are contending that 2018 is too long of a wait.