Usamate Accuses Prof Prasad of Misleading Public in Heated VAT and Cost of Living Debate

• Opposition MP Jone Usamate accused Prof Biman Prasad of misleading the public about tax changes and the cost of living.
• Usamate argued that Prasad’s tax comparisons were inaccurate, as previous higher tax rates mainly affected the tourism sector, not everyday goods.
• He stated that 21 basic food items were zero-rated for VAT before the 2022 election, contrary to government claims.
• Usamate criticized the VAT increase from 9% to 15% in 2023, saying it significantly raised living costs, and argued that the recent reduction to 12.5% is still higher than before.
• He emphasized that ordinary Fijians are more concerned about rising daily expenses than technical tax debates.

Source: fijitimes.com.fj

Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.

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