Activist: VAT-free list of foods cheap gimmick

Social activist Hazel Brown has described Government’s VAT-free list of foods as “ridiculous” and “a cheap political gimmick.” Brown also accused the Government of being ill-advised in compiling the list and insisted Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar should explain the policy decision behind it. “This is mind-boggling. It is obscene and it is very ill-advised. What was Government thinking when they made up this list? Who came up with this? Are they for real?” Brown asked. She also called on the Government to ascertain clearly what poor people consumed and called for greater consultation if another list was to be presented. Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj said the list was yet to be “completely finalised” as it still had to be given the green light by the Inter-ministerial Committee. Brown added: “How much poor people really buy pancakes and maple syrup? The people who can afford these items can buy it anyway, with the VAT. “This does not make sense. I cannot buy pancake mix. I make my own jam and my pancakes with cassava flour.” 

 

She also questioned the health value of the list, saying most of the items were encouraging people to eat unhealthily and buy imported goods rather than home-grown items. Brown said that would result in a greater increase in lifestyle diseases and also would have a negative effect on children. She added: “Why would I want to buy canned fruit cocktail and canned vegetables when there is fresh produce in the market?  “What is the Government encouraging people to buy and eat? The Government would have to build another hospital because after they eat all of this, that is where the people would end up.” She said not only would adults be encouraged to consume canned fruits and vegetables but the parents also would be inclined to feed that to their children. “This is abuse to children,” Brown said, adding: “It says a lot about the Government and it says a lot about us as a people because they think we are just foolish.” In March last year, the Prime Minister appointed Brown as a special envoy for women’s and children’s issues to the Commonwealth Caribbean.

 

Items to go VAT-free

• Cereals (only cornflakes are zero-rated at present)

• Pancake mixes

• Pancake syrups

• Jams

• Tea

• Creamers

• Flavoured milk drinks

• Drink mixes

• Juices (only citrus juices are zero-rated)

• Snacks

• Cakes

• Custard powder

• Canned vegetables

• Pasta sauces

• Soups/soup mixes

• Corned mutton

• Luncheon meats

• Canned salmon

• Viennas (non-chicken)

• Batter/breadcrumbs

• Pholourie mix

• Flavoured rice

• Cake mixes/frosting

• Almond essence (vanilla essence is zero-rated)

• Canned fruit

• Fruit cocktail

• Soya chunks/minced

• Soya drinks

• Instant oatmeal

• Sweetners

• Mayonnaise

• Barbecue sauce

• Pepper sauce

• Seasonings

• Coconut milk powder

• Massala

• Salad dressing

• Olives/capers

• Relish/dill/pickles

• Hot chow

• French fries

• Frozen potato

• Hamburger patties

• Sausages/bacon

• Processed meats

• Hams

• Smoked chicken

• Smoked turkey

• Hot dogs

• Bologna

• Frozen foods

• Ice cream

• Yogurt

• Desserts