NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Prime Minister Philip Davis KC met with representatives from the grocery retail industry on Tuesday, announcing that those talks resulted in a solution that will ensure Bahamian families benefit from the upcoming change of VAT on unprepared food in grocery stores, effective April 1.
“Families across our country are working hard every day, and they deserve a government that stays focused on easing pressure at the checkout line and around the kitchen table,” The Prime Minister said in a statement released by his office Tuesday night.
He continued: “I am pleased we could find a solution so that Bahamians will benefit from the change of VAT on unprepared food in grocery stores beginning April 1. This is about helping families keep more of their money in their pockets. It is about making everyday essentials more affordable. And it is about showing that when government and industry come together with goodwill and seriousness, we can deliver real results for the people we serve.”
According to the Prime Minister, Tuesday’s discussions with the grocery retail industry resulted in a plan that focuses on easing the financial pressure on Bahamian households. “We listened to each other. We worked through the issues. And we agreed on a way forward that keeps the focus where it belongs, on delivering relief for Bahamian families,” Davis said.
He added: April 1 will mark an important step. The full removal of VAT on unprepared food in grocery stores will help many families across The Bahamas as they manage the rising cost of living. My government will keep working every day to find ways to ease the burden on working people, support households, and move this country forward.”
