Removal of all taxes on feminine products under next PPP/C Govt – President Ali

Under the next People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, all taxes on sanitary supplies and feminine products will be removed. This was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali at PPP/C Elections Rally on Sunday evening at Bath Settlement in Region Five. Already, the current PPP/C Administration, through the First Lady’s Office, has rolled out the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative, which is aimed at ending period poverty across Guyana, giving vulnerable groups and young women sanitary supplies for one year.

“Today, we have decided in our manifesto that we’re going to remove all taxes on sanitary supplies and other basic supplies for feminine health and women health,” Ali declared. The Head of State, who is seeking a second term in office, added, “We are investing in our women. We are investing in our sisters, in our mothers, in our grandmothers. We are investing because we believe in you.”
Calling women the bedrock of development, President Ali went on to detail plans for special tax incentives especially for single women-led families.
Investing in women
According to Ali, women today have more opportunities than ever before and are taking advantage of them. This, he noted, is reflected in the fact that more than 70 per cent of graduates today are young women – something that was previously unheard of since many women were forced to set aside their professional and educational goals to focus on raising a family. Even mothers and elderly women are also benefiting more under the PPP/C Administration and living better lives, he added. With the myriads of opportunities now available, Ali said women are taking the lead and to support them the PPP/C has committed to building childcare facilities in every region. “Understand what the future is about. When we speak about women, we are talking about special tax incentive for single women-led families so we can support single mothers…support them to build stronger families, support them to live a life of fulfilment. No longer must our young women weigh starting their family and protecting their children and pursuing their professional career,” he noted. According to the Head of State, for Guyana to achieve full productivity it must deploy every single form of labour. Emphasising that the human capital is the country’s greatest asset, he committed to investing capacity building.
“We have to invest in that asset. The future we’re talking about is about incentivising families: building larger families and stronger families. Already, we have started by giving a newborn grant to every single child… We have to invest in your security and your quality of life. We have to invest in your dignity and your honour,” Ali posited.
The President noted that the PPP/C is delivering on not just the simple things but building a future bigger than anything their political opponents can deliver. He said the PPP/C’s track record speaks for itself with the delivery of better education and healthcare, reduced taxes, massive infrastructure buildout and support for groups including children, the elders and farmers.
“We are your everyday, every season and every moment. Every time this country needed the PPP/C, we were right there in every struggle,” he reminded.
Turning his attention to residents of Region Five, Ali assured that there will be more benefits to come from major projects that the PPP/C will be rolling out over the next five years.
In fact, he said with the gas pipeline project slated to be established in Berbice, scores of jobs will be created and Government will ensure that residents from Region Five get the necessary skills training so that they too can benefit from it.
From a new four-lane highway to a world-class horse racing track in the region to more part-time jobs and upskilling opportunities to equipping farmers and providing cold storage facilities, Ali stressed that “the opportunities created here must first go the people in this region.”