POVERTY ALLEVIATION: TRADE LIBERALISATION

JULIET PORTILLO Has the removal of VAT and Import Duties on certain types of imported food items such as canned tuna, mackerel, sardines, juices and curry just to name a few helped the poor in any meaningful way? No. Consumers have not seen a marked reduction in food prices and supermarket owners cite several reasons for this. The spike in crime has allowed for an increase in overheads namely security cameras and personnel and also increased charges on the ports.Unfortunately all of these have to be absorbed by the consumer since the capitalist world is one of profit making. Consumers even end up paying more. The lowering of tariffs therefore has not filtered down to the poor and we talk poverty alleviation. What's the use since it benefits the wealthy.