Tax betrayal!
Revenue measures unconscionable, breach the trust of the people, says PNP
The most vulnerable in the society would be hardest hit, and I am calling on the Government to reconsider the imposition of these new taxes
“UNCONSCIONABLE AND a betrayal of the trust of the people in their Government” is how the Opposition, People’s National Party (PNP), has labelled the $13.5 billion tax package tabled by Finance Minister Audley Shaw in Parliament on Thursday.
Opposition Spokesman on Finance Dr Peter Phillips said that while the Government has committed to reducing interest rates and reducing the debt, which is a continuation of the last administration’s policy, the new tax package will unleash unnecessary and brutal hardships on the people of Jamaica and will only move people from poverty to worsened poverty.
“The most vulnerable in the society would be hardest hit, and I am calling on the Government to reconsider the imposition of these new taxes,” said Phillips.
“Though warned that their election promise of a $1.5 million tax break was not feasible and would cost Jamaicans nearly $30 billion, the Government convinced Jamaicans that they could deliver. Even when the reality hit the Government that this proposal was unworkable, they still carried on with an amended version, which has resulted in Jamaicans paying nearly $30 billion in taxes over two years,” stated a release from the PNP.
BURDEN ON BROKEN SECTOR
“The opposition is convinced that the imposition of GCT (general consumption tax) on group health insurance will put additional burden on the already broken health sector and the poor, who are already unable to afford quality health care and will have to pay more in a worsened system,” said the release.
“This coupled with the imminent pension reform (though pension reform is necessary), will have a devastating effect on some of the most vulnerable in the society,” the party said.