Robinson wants tax on tablets, laptops abolished

Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson, yesterday reiterated his call for the Government to remove the taxes from tablets and laptop computers.

Robinson, who was responding to a statement in Parliament from Technology Minister Daryl Vaz, said the country would only be giving up about US$5 million in revenue.

"What you give up in the revenue, you will more than make up in the contribution to national deveopment by ensuring that kids have access to education," Robinson said.

The use of tablets and laptop computers has become critical since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools. Vaz said yesterday that the Government recognises the need for a digital revolution throughout the society, and stressed that the distribution of tablets to teachers and students is of such vital importance.

"So far, 23,946 tablets have been distributed under the Tablets for Teachers Programme and 34,219 tablets to students under the Tablets in School Programme," Vaz said.

Robinson, while agreeing with Vaz about the need to bridge the digital divide, said he cannot understand why the Government is unwilling to remove the taxes from the devices.

"I have heard the answer that if we remove it we are going to be giving those who are well off an advantage. The problem [is that] the people who are well off have already bought devices for their kids. They are not going to buy three of four more because we removed the tax," Robinson argued.

The South East St Andrew representative said that keeping the tax on tablets and laptop computers "is incompatible with a desire to move forward a digital economy."