KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has called on the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) to refrain from any demonstrations over the new taxes announced by the Bruce Golding administration last week.
The PNP has said it plans to stage non-violent street demonstrations and has also called for the resignation of the finance minister, Audley Shaw, over the J$22 billion (US$1.8 billion) tax package that goes into effect from January 1 next year.
“Our history with this type of activity has invariably resulted in chaos and infrastructural damage to the country,” JHTA president Wayne Cummings said, pointing to the already fragile winter season.
“Additionally, the public relations nightmare that surrounds these protests are played out both locally and internationally, having a debilitating effect on the efforts of the country to sell itself as a safe haven for both Jamaicans and visitors.”
The United States Embassy here has already issued a warning to its nationals in the wake of a demonstration on Monday by the youth arm of the opposition party.
Cummings said his association very strongly disagreed with the call by the leadership of the PNP for demonstrations, reminding the opposition party of the already precarious state of the country’s economy.
However, the JHTA joined a number of organizations and groups here that have expressed dissatisfaction with the tax package outlined by Shaw last Thursday.
“We also call on the prime minister and the Government to constructively engage the Opposition and all other pertinent groups in arriving at a formula that is sensible to fill the gaping fiscal gaps, while recognising that it is people’s lives and survival that have to be contemplated,” said Cummings.
Meanwhile, Jamaicans are awaiting an announcement from the government after the tax measures were reviewed at a Cabinet meeting on Monday.
In addition, senior Cabinet ministers met on Monday with business leaders to discuss options to some of the measures outlined in the tax package.
Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller has also written to Prime Minister Bruce Golding urging him to reconvene Parliament ahead of the new measures going into effect.
“I am making these requests in light of my strongly held position that Parliament is the appropriate forum for consideration and approval of all taxation measures,” Simpson Miller said.
“it is very critical at this time to engage a wide cross sections of persons and organisations to have discussions so that we can come together to develop some solutions to the challenges we are facing in the country at this time,” Simpson Miller said, noting that if the Parliament is reconvened “we will be putting the position of the people not the People’s National Party”.
The PNP said it is seeking permission from the police to stage
Meanwhile the party says it has requested permission to stage the demonstrations in at least six towns across the island.
PNP General Secretary Peter Bunting has already met with acting Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, even as members of the youth arm of the party marched to Jamaica House – the office of the Prime Minister- to deliver a list of alternative proposals to the tax.
Information Minister, Daryl Vaz, who received the document, said a response would be given after a meeting with the government’s technical team.
“You have my assurance that we will look at it. We have been getting a number of proposals… What is important is that we all know that the J$21 billion (US$1.8 billion) has to be found ,” Vaz said.
