ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government says it will seek parliamentary approval on April 10 to extend key fiscal measures aimed at easing the rising cost of food and essential goods.
The government, during the presentation of the 2025-26 national budget, removed import duties and implemented zero-rating of select items under the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime to help cushion the impact of rising global prices on consumers.
But Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the decision to extend the relief is in response to new global developments, particularly escalating tensions in the Middle East, where the United States and Israel are engaged in a war with Iran, sending oil prices above US$100 per barrel.
“And so the cabinet has decided to go back to Parliament to extend that measure further to help cushion the impact of the war on Dominican citizens and residents. Both the import duty waiver and the VAT will be extended,” Skerrit said.
He said the new measure will remain in effect until the end of July this year, adding that it will be reviewed again during the upcoming budget period.
Prime Minister Skerrit described the move as “good news for the Dominican people,” noting that all sectors of society will benefit, including families, small businesses, and the hospitality industry.
He referenced a broader strategy to build self-sufficiency, including ongoing investments in agriculture, the development of the national abattoir, and renewable energy initiatives, such as the geothermal energy plant.
“All of these efforts are about making Dominica more self-reliant, so that when external shocks occur, they have less impact on our way of life,” Skerrit added.
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