Newby dangles tax breaks to scout for volunteers
Published:Friday | July 23, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Senator Warren Newby has promised to propose to Cabinet that the Government give tax breaks to teachers who volunteer with the Scout Association of Jamaica and similar organisations.
Newby made the announcement while addressing the Centenary Jamboree Opening Ceremony at the Social Development Commission (SDC) in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, on Wednesday.
"I am proposing to take a submission to Cabinet and will ask the members to look into the matter of providing a tax break to teachers who volunteer to lead uniform groups and other such organisations that we believe are adding value to character-based education and, thereby, enabling our young people to become more rounded, as a means of incentivising leadership in these organisations," Newby told The Gleaner.
The senator said he would not be proposing that teachers be given a full waiver, just a percentage of their current income tax.
"If this is achieved, it would afford teachers a bit more spending power. We find that many teachers are now engaged in other ventures to augment their salaries and this limits the amount of time they are able to volunteer their services," said Newby, who is also the parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
He emphasised that the tax break would not only be considered for the summer periods when teachers are presumed to have more time on their hands, but on a permanent basis.
The Centenary Jamboree of the Scout Association of Jamaica will last for eight days and has attracted more than 150 scouts, cubs and other senior scout personnel from across the island, as well as other Caribbean nations.