Import tax waiver for disaster relief supplies extended to December

The Government has extended the window for which persons can import Hurricane Melissa relief supplies and donations without paying customs duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT).

The tax relief took effect on October 29 and was set to expire on November 29.

Speaking in Parliament today, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announced that the exemption has been moved to the end of December.

Holness said this will allow every shipment of emergency supplies to reach affected persons without much hassle or delay, noting that recovery efforts are ongoing and would go on much longer than the original one-month exemption period.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced that satellite internet devices such as Starlink and other such equipment, inverters and solar-powered equipment, including panels and batteries, have been added to the list of tax-exempt items.

He said the move is to get power and communication to areas that are without such services due to damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Noting that others will take advantage of the tax relief, Holness appealed to persons to act generously and share some of these much-needed items with those in need.

“If you can buy 2 Starlinks and send one to a family or a community, do it. If you can buy solar batteries and solar panels and give it to a community or a household in the affected parts of Jamaica, please, do it,” he said.

“I know that we give up these revenues others will benefit from it who don’t really need it, so I ask Jamaicans to use your conscience. Enough that the other half of Jamaica that is suffering now benefits from this relief,” he continued.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.