PM Golding Defends Increase in Departure and Telephone Taxes

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding has defended Government’s decision to increase both the departure and telephone taxes, noting that the call to roll them back is a normal response from the public.
The departure tax was increased from $1,000 to $1,800 while there has been an increase from 20%- 25% on telephone cards, telephone calls and instruments.
Mr. Golding said, recently, that the decision to add the taxes on the departure and telephone services was taken as they were the easiest to apply and collect. He said these would also have the least impact on people’s purchasing power. The Ministry of Finance through the Financial Secretary is working with the entities involved to iron out the challenges, Mr. Golding added.