Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that his government will return to Parliament on April 10 to seek approval to extend tax relief measures aimed at easing the rising cost of food and essential goods in Dominica.

The measures, which include the removal of import duties and the zero-rating of select items under the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime, were first introduced in the 2025/2026 Budget to cushion the impact of rising global prices on consumers.

Skerrit said Cabinet has decided to extend the relief in response to recent global developments, particularly escalating tensions involving Iran, which have contributed to increased costs.

“And so cabinet has decided to go back to parliament to extend that measure further to help cushion the impact of the war on Dominican citizens and residents. Both the import duty waiver and the VAT will be extended,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that the measures are expected to remain in place until the end of July, with a further review planned during the next budget cycle.

He described the extension as “good news for the Dominican people,” noting that it is intended to provide support across multiple sectors, including households, small businesses and the hospitality industry.

Skerrit also pointed to broader efforts by the government to strengthen economic resilience, including investments in agriculture, the development of a national abattoir and renewable energy projects such as a geothermal plant.

“All of these efforts are about making Dominica more self-reliant, so that when external shocks occur, they have less impact on our way of life,” he said.