AMENDMENTS TO the Customs Duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT) Acts were yesterday approved by Cabinet, paving the way for master teachers to be included in the category of persons eligible to receive a 20 per cent duty concession on motor vehicles purchased for use in the performance of their official duties.
Colin Campbell, Information Minister, told reporters this at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
He said that current provisions of both Acts allow persons employed in schools approved by the Ministry of Education to be granted the concession.
These include principals and vice-principals or persons employed as teachers to "implement, co-ordinate, or supervise any work experience programme approved by the Ministry".
Mr. Campbell could not say how many master teachers were in the system, but explained that they were a "new category of experienced teachers within the ministry who would have attained a certain status in the craft of their own particular specialist area. They in turn impart (their knowledge) to members of their profession," he added.
It was agreed in the 2000-2002 Heads of Agreement between the Government and the Jamaica Teachers' Association that a commuted travelling allowance of $112,536 per annum be attached to the post of master teacher with effect from April 1, 2001.
"Based on that, the Customs Duty and General Consumption Tax Acts are to be amended to provide for the post of master teacher to be added to the list of eligible persons," Mr. Campbell said.
