SC BYTE: Let’s make computers cheaper and expand ICT training…but

Source: http://www.physorg.com

Calls for Government to remove General Consumption tax (GCT) and import taxes on computers in order to widen and deepen Internet access for Jamaicans are very familiar. But information and communications technology (ICT) guru Professor Hopeton Dunn has gone a step further. He also wants private sector entrepreneurs to do their part in reducing computer costs through “creative pricing and marketing”.

I love this call for a rollback of the GCT on computers, I’d like to make sure that it include tablet computers, lest someone in the decision chain still thinks desktops and laptops only. However, I don’t agree that hire purchase should be promoted as a major method to supposedly as he said ” reduce the immediate cost impact”. Consumers will always end up paying it 3-8 times over for a tool that depreciates pretty quickly.  Reducing GCT on desktop,laptop and tablets and businesses importing better and cheaper models is the real answer I believe : More