We never said we were going to reduce VAT in 60 days – Bramble
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, said that the New Democratic Party did not, during the 2025 general elections campaign promise to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) during their first 60 days in office. This is contrary to what has been posted on the website of the governing New Democratic Party (NDP), https://www.ndpsvg.com/news/ndp-promises-to-double-poor-relief-slash-vat-within-60-days/, which has been up since the party started its election campaign last year.
The party promised that if they were to form government they would, in 60 days, do several things: double Public Assistance, reduce the 16% VAT on everyday goods and residential electricity, pay a bonus salary to public servants, and reinstate public sector workers fired under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The VAT has not been reduced but the country had its first VAT free day on November 19, 2025, while the Public Assistance payment has increased from $360 to $500. Public servants received a salary bonus of EC$2,000 but not the promised double pay/bonus salary.
Speaking on Thursday, March 19, 2026 on Hot 97.1 FM’s AM Mayhem radio programme, Bramble, the parliamentary representative for East Kingstown who also holds the portfolios of Minister of Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs, said while his party did promise to reduce the VAT, they did not say they would do that in the first 60 days in office.
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