John Mahfood
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Former JMEA president John Mahfood
Immediate past president of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (JMEA) John Mahfood is concerned that the announced increases in the duty-free allowance limit could have a negative ripple effect on some businesses.
Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke said on the weekend that the allowance for personal items imported into Jamaica will move from US$50 to US$100 in April.
The threshold for Jamaicans returning with goods bought overseas is also to move to US$1,000, up from US$500.
Mr. Mahfood, who was a guest Wednesday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM, said he is more concerned about the duty-free allowance for Jamaicans returning from overseas.
"It encourages overseas shopping, encourages travel abroad, utilisation of foreign exchange, bringing in goods, bringing in substantial amounts of goods, frequent shopping. I don't see that as beneficial to Jamaica," he argued.
The 100-per cent increase in duty-free allowance is expected to cost the government between $1 billion and $1.5 billion in revenue annually.
Mr. Mahfood believes the government should focus more on implementing initiatives that will be of greater value to the most vulnerable.
"My bigger concern is if you're going to give up $2 or $3 billion between JUTC and this, why not use that to benefit the really poor population? Why not increase PATH? Why not make primary schools free of cost so more Jamaicans can send their children to school and have a better chance of getting good grades to go to high school?
"To me, that should be what this government should be doing, is saying something big like, I'm going to make primary schools totally free. You don't have to pay lunch, you don't have to pay uniforms, you don't have to pay school fees and anything else," asserted the former JMEA president.
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