New increase for alcohol and cigarettes
Prime Minister Patrick Manning sustained that in the near future it is expected an increase of duties on alcohol and cigarettes if the leading People’s National Movement wins the upcoming general election. It is believed that rise of duties on alcohol and tobacco products will discourage the usage and help to improve health sphere of the state.
The Manning administration raised the tax and duties on alcohol and cigarettes by at least 15 per cent in the 2006/2007 Budget. Is is not everything, as Manning added “And I am sure in the future we will raise the price again.”
Manning said that rise of taxes was the policy which his movement always intends to realize, as namely through rising the usage can be discourage and help the health field. Along with this, Manning said there was no attempt to hurt “big business”.
It is interesting how he and his movement will realize proposed ideas, because as practice shows after tax increase a lot of businesses fail. And as it is known, failure of businesses results in jobless too.
During Heads of Government Conference meeting that took place in Port of Spain at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Port of Spain, Manning said: “the increased taxes on tobacco and alcohol were among the first steps. These items have been identified as major contributors to the high mortality rates caused by Non-Communicable Diseases in this country as well as the Caribbean and for that matter the world over”.
