 St. Lucia's medical practitioners will benefit from Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre's newly instituted value-added tax exemption policy on medical equipment. Prime Minister Pierre's VAT amnesty on medical equipment will incentivize doctors in private practice to procure imported medical equipment at reduced costs. Medical doctors can expand their offerings to their clients at more affordable rates. So the medical fraternity can import these materials and pay no VAT and no health and security level. Mr. Speaker, what better statement than a government can make to support health service in the country, Mr. Speaker? And that decision was not made lightly because there were some who said to us, said to the Minister of Finance, these people can afford to build that equipment because the church used it. But the government sought to know, we sought to know that we have to be an added incentive Mr. Speaker. So the people who travel all the time, who have to go, have to pay their passage, have to come and we hope in that the medical fraternity can invest in these machines and can do the tests necessary for the people of St. Lucia, Mr. Speaker. Prime Minister Pierre's VAT amnesty on medical equipment dovetails with the government's thrust towards universal health care coverage and strengthening St. Lucia's national health infrastructure. The two-year VAT amnesty will increase the domestic availability of radiological and clinical examinations, avoiding St. Lucia's costly travel expenses to overseas countries. Increased access to these medical services can improve the detection of illness in patients who would not have been able to afford it before the VAT amnesty. The government by itself can never establish this medical landscape, can never, no government by itself can do it. So we must work with the private sector, the medical professionals, those who are in medical, in the businesses, the people who make equipment and so on. What we want is for St. Lucia's first and foremost to have the best medical care at an affordable price. So whatever we can do as a government, we have taxes, whatever we can do to assist the private sector, we will do. Prime Minister Piers VAT amnesty on medical equipment will bring down the cost of vital medical exams, wider availability of medical services, at more affordable rates, will save St. Lucia's money and improve their health. The parliament recently voted to pass a resolution introduced by the prime minister to remove VAT charges on a suite of radiological and clinical equipment for two years, commencing August 2nd, 2023 to August 1st, 2025. From the office of the prime minister, Rihanna Isidou