Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle says a United Progressive Party government would eliminate all taxes on new electric and renewable-energy vehicles, arguing that the country’s transition to clean transportation is being slowed by high import duties and what he described as layers of government-imposed costs.
Speaking during the 2026 National Budget debate, Pringle said many residents want to switch to electric mobility because of rising fuel prices and the broader push toward sustainability, but cannot afford to do so because of the taxes applied at the port.
He insisted those charges contradict the government’s public messaging on climate resilience and renewable energy.
The opposition leader said the UPP’s plan would remove what he called “unnecessary burdens” on families who want to adopt clean technologies.
He told the House that eliminating taxes on renewable-energy vehicles is not merely symbolic but would directly lower barriers to ownership, encourage competition among dealerships and position the country to benefit from global advances in sustainable transport.
Pringle presented the proposal as part of a broader clean-energy plan he says the government has failed to implement.
He argued that incentivizing electric vehicles is “common sense” policy for a small island state that is highly vulnerable to climate impacts, heavily dependent on imported fuels and seeking to reduce household energy costs.
He said the measure would complement other UPP commitments, including the removal of restrictions on residential solar systems and a pledge to create a more investor-friendly environment for renewable technologies.
Pringle told Parliament that a serious climate agenda must begin with “practical, affordable pathways” for citizens, not international speeches that, in his view, are not matched by domestic policy.
