The United Progressive Party (UPP) recently urged the government to implement an ABST-free weekend on school uniforms and supplies.

However, the opposition party’s PRO, Damani Tabor, believes this initiative should include electronic items.

Although the Cabinet agreed to implement an ABST-free weekend on September 1st and 2nd, the UPP claims it was “a little too late” since parents would have already purchased most of their children’s school supplies.

According to Tabor, the government can make it up to the public by broadening the scope of the exemption and extending the period for an additional week.

This would allow parents to purchase other items, such as electronic devices that support learning – like tablets and printers.

Tabor argues that this would substantially benefit parents, and it aligns with the UPP’s goal to close the digital divide and ensure maximum connectivity for every child in the digital space.

“They can broaden the scope of the exemption and extend the period an additional week to allow parents to get other items, such as electronic devices that support learning like tablets and printers. This would be a substantial benefit to parents,” he stated.

Tabor also notes that parents are still suffering from the effects of inflation. Therefore, the UPP is calling for additional relief on back-to-school shopping so that parents can buy juice boxes and snacks in bulk to cushion their finances as we advance.

In conclusion, Tabor believes that extending ABST relief to digital devices and broadening the scope of the exemption for an additional week would be a meaningful intervention.

It would give legitimate and meaningful benefits to the people, and the UPP fully supports this initiative.