Despite the announcement by Government of its intention to meet with parents who are against the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on education, some are not too confident that a decision will be made in their favour.
Another protest was held outside the Education Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown office on Wednesday, where those views were expressed by people affected by the recent change.
Saraswati Vidya Niketan School Principal Swami Aksharananda holding up a placard during Wednesday’s protest
While Wednesday’s protest did not attract a large crowd like it did in the past, many parents, including educators and religious leaders, still believe that the Government is not serious about removing VAT on education.
Principal of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School on the West Coast of Demerara, Swami Aksharananda, believes that the meeting scheduled for Friday at the National Cultural Centre will not change Government’s position.
The school principal and religious leader has said if Government decides not to remove VAT on education, then those affected will have to continue to agitate.
Other parents told this publication that they hope Government will remove VAT on education in its entirety and not try to lower the imposed 14 per cent.
Mark Kazim, a parent who also spoke with Guyana Times expressed his disappointment with the move.
While Kazim did not want to pre-empt what could come out of the discussion between parents and education officials on Friday, he said the fight will continue if Government chooses not to listen to affected parents.
Roman Catholic Bishop, Francis Alleyne
“We still have to fight for what we don’t believe in, and what we don’t believe in is VAT on education. Let’s see what happens after that meeting,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Roman Catholic Bishop, Francis Alleyne, who was among the demonstrators, said although many persons are not too hopeful, he would hope both parties could come to an amicable agreement.
Protesters outside the Education Ministry’s Brickdam office
He also said the number of people attending does not matter. “If the Government is making a genuine gesture, it’s not about the number of people but the number of issues and concerns and with that is room for discussion and dialogue on education as a whole, so that’s what I hope will happen,” Bishop Francis Allen said.
Since its implementation, Government’s tax on private education has received widespread criticism. Many are calling the decision one that has not been thought through and needs to be urgently revised or repealed.
