Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) in several sectors — a fulfilment of the promise made by the Peoples’ Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) during the election campaign

The President said that the measure will bring relief, stimulate economic activity, increase the country’s productive capacity, reduce the cost of doing business and facilitate the growth and development of businesses. The measures, President Ali said will have an immense impact on people’s welfare and well-being and improve living standards.

Ali added that the measures will help every aspect of life and “put more money in people’s pocket.”

VATs to be removed

Topping the list is the removal of VAT immediately on water and electricity introduced by the previous administration.

Removal of VAT and duties will also be imposed on machinery and equipment to allow for the recapitalization of key sectors which includes mining, forestry, agriculture and manufacturing. This is coupled with the granting of tax concessions for mining, forestry, manufacturing and agriculture.

There will also be the reversal of land lease fees that we have had over the last five years, back to the position it was in 2014. The President said that one of the reasons for this is due to the increase in land lease fees for poultry by 1350 percent. Value Added Tax will also be removed on agro-chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and key inputs in the poultry sector.

The Head of State also highlighted that there will be a reversal of VAT on all exports. He noted that this will help the manufacturing sector, help exporters to become more competitive and profitable that could lead to creating more jobs and new opportunities.

VAT on hinterland travel, all medical supplies, building and construction materials and cellular phones are likewise to be scrapped. Further, corporate tax on private education and private healthcare will be removed.

Other relief measures

Apart from removel of VAT, President Ali also said that mortgage interest relief will be increased to $30 million and will be income tax deductible.

“This will help new homeowners, this will help young people where your loans for housing are up to $30 million, the interest from those loans will become income tax-deductible.”

Also, low income loans have now been increased to $10 million from $8 million.

Ali also announced that all licenses fees which were increased before October 1, 2020, will be slashed by 50 per cent.

There will also be a change in the log export policy to allow saw millers to export logs, easing the burden of small loggers and saw millers.

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UN NEWS – With 1.4 billion people around the world lacking basic literacy skills, the head of the UN cultural agency on Tuesday urged all those involved in learning, to mobilize the investments needed that could unleash each person’s potential. 

“At a time when we need to reinvent a world of hope, literacy is more important than ever,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in her message for International Literacy Day. 

Organized under the 2020 theme, “Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond”, the Day is celebrated annually on 8 September.    

Educators a priority 

This year’s commemoration highlights life-long literacy learning – keeping youth and adults at the centre of attention.   

To overcome the epic impact of COVID-19, the first focus must be on frontline educators, stressed Ms. Azoulay. 

“We have seen their dedication during this unprecedented situation,” she said, “but we have also witnessed their insecurity and deprivation, since the daily work of teaching literacy, however essential it is, receives too little recognition.” 

Educators everywhere must be able to carry out their tasks in good working conditions, she continued, including by receiving fair pay and job stability.  It also means empowering them through training throughout their practice so they can adapt in all circumstances, particularly school closures. 

2 of every 3 students still out of school 

With two out of every three students still unable to go back to school, the UN official underscored the importance of widespread training for educators in distance education solutions.  

New technologies also hold big potential. While they cannot replace transmission of knowledge by humans, the UNESCO chief said they can nonetheless be valuable allies. 

“We must support their development and make them accessible to all learners,” asserted Ms. Azoulay, calling it “an important aspect of our reflection on the Futures of Education.” 

Policy gaps laid bare by pandemic 

The COVID-19 crisis has been a stark reminder of the gap between policy discourse and reality – one that existed before the pandemic and only compounds the disadvantages faced by those who have no or low literacy skills. 

During the pandemic, adult literacy programmes in many countries were left out of initial education response plans.   

And most adult literacy programmes that did exist were suspended.   

Literacy Day offers an opportunity to explore how to position youth and adult literacy learning in global and national responses, as well as formulate policies, systems and other measures to support educators.  

The global celebrations featured a virtual meeting on the role of educators and changing pedagogies, and another online event celebrating the Laureates of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes. 

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