The Member of Parliament for Sagaga 2 constituency has called for tax cuts on basic food items, as oil prices and other costs continue to increase by the month.
MP Maulolo Tavita Amosa added his voice to the call for the tax relief when he spoke during the 2022/2023 Budget Debate, last Friday.
Many of his fellow parliamentarians criticized the rising cost of goods and lamented the struggle faced by the public, especially low income families.
Maulolo, an opposition Human Rights Protection Party member, suggested a temporary cut of the VAGST from 15 percent to 5 percent, which he said will be useful at this time as the country shifts to recovery mode from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A low income family and a mother who just gave birth will find this helpful, in order to feed a newborn child and reduce the risk of infection,” he said.
He said, the children should be well fed for the better future of the country and the Government should contribute to this area for the general public.
The former University lecturer warned that if the nutrition intake of Samoa’s children is not looked at, then the Ministry of Health will face a lot of problems in the future trying to address a spike in diseases.
Debate continued in Parliament this morning on the 2022/2023 national budget that is expected to be passed this week.
