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Removal of VAT, free water for pensioners from month-end – Minister
Pensioners to get VAT and free water from month-end.
Kaieteur News – Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal has announced that systems are in place for citizens to have more affordable water. Effective from November 5, 2020, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) customers are eligible to benefit from two significant measures.
“Every consumer that is paying for their water can expect the removal of VAT,” Minister Croal said during an interview with the Department of Public information earlier in the week.
He also addressed the issue of pensioners receiving free water.
“With respect to our pensioners, there are some pensioners who are unmetered and then of course, there are some who are metered. For those who are unmetered […] there is 100 percent subsidy […] they are not required to make payments on their water consumed,” the Minister said.
In a previous interview, GWI‘s CEO, Shaik Baksh had said for pensioners, the government will reinstate subsidies which were removed over the past five years under the previous administration. He added that, “for the metered pensioners, the first ten cubic metres of water consumed is zero rated and above ten cubic metres then they will be required to pay the difference consumed at the rate that is being charged for [other] consumers.”
Ten cubic metres of water equates to approximately five 400-gallon black tanks, which is expected to adequately supply water for each pensioner and a partner, once managed properly, for a month.
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced a number of sweeping budgetary measures including the removal of VAT on water and free water for pensioners as part of provisions in the 2020 emergency Budget. The implementation of this initiative, President Ali said, means that more than 50,000 pensioners in Guyana could enjoy improved livelihood and hundreds of thousands of citizens would have more money in their pockets with the removal of VAT.
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