PENSIONERS SHOULD BE TOTALLY TAX EXEMPT

They Already Paid Their Dues

**………by Audley Phillip**

Some months ago, I had a cordial and friendly discussion with a Government Senator. I raised what I considered to be a a genuine concern that all pensioners should be exempt of any taxes.

Our pensioners have already paid their dues and it is almost double whammy to ask them to pay Antigua & Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) on food and other consumer items.

Once a pensioner shows his/her pension card at the time of making purchase, all taxes should be exempted and removed.

Pensioners are required to live and survive on a pension cheque which is by no means substantial.

Old age comes with its share of ailments and sickness and very often the pension cheque is not even able to cover a fraction of their medical costs.

I am therefore calling on the government to move quickly in order to address this anomaly and bring some much needed relief to pensioners.