Consumers in Trinidad and Tobago will be paying more for many commonly used foods items such as cereals, pasta, milk, butter, cooking oils, fruit juices and sweet drink, cocoa/chocolate powder and drinks, biscuits, mauby, ketchup, and yogurt, which previously were vat-free.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Finance Minister, Colm Imbert outlined some of the hundreds of items on which 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) will be added.
Also on the list are flour (except for all purpose and wheat), rice (except parboiled and boiled rice), cheese and curd (except cheese and rennet free cheese), cane sugar (except brown), coffee, teas, tunas, herring, all sausages, prepared meats, prepared vegetables, mayonnaise, coconut milk and pepper.
According to the Trinidad Express, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says the silver lining behind the cloud of value added tax (VAT) being added to hundreds of food items is that it will push Trinidadians and Tobagonians to eat healthier food.
Addressing reporters yesterday, Rowley said yesterday that the list of food items to be removed from the zero-rated list on February 1st were non-essential products.
