KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—Prime Minister Andrew Holness blasted the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) on Thursday, criticizing the government’s decision not to impose new taxes on citizens for nine consecutive budgets.
The Prime Minister, making his contribution to the 2024/25 Budget Debate, accused Opposition leader Mark Golding of spreading lies.
On Tuesday, in his contribution to the debate, Golding questioned Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke’s repeated claim that no new taxes would be imposed.
“The minister likes to make a song-and-dance about no new taxes imposed since over $30 billion was imposed in the first two years of the JLP Government elected in 2016. However, it is important to recognize that the taxes collected from the Jamaican people have risen dramatically under this Government,” Golding said.
But in response, Holness said the opposition does not understand or “are too ashamed to admit their government has never been able to do this.”
“They cannot admit that more Jamaicans are employed now than at any other time, so more Jamaicans have income and purchasing power. The new hotels built, the new BPOs and construction projects, the small businesses and medium enterprises contribute their fair share to the tax revenue”.
The prime minister noted that wage levels have increased, and more people see the benefits of joining the formal economy by becoming compliant and contributing to the tax pool.
“The Government, in turn, takes these tax revenues and returns them to the citizens in ways that increase quality of life. We have increased public sector wages and expenditures on national security, health, education, water, pensions, and social security. Moreover, we have used your taxes to bring down debt servicing, which creates more room to spend on the things that matter to you,” said the prime minister.
Holness boasted that his government has created a stable and robust macroeconomic environment of fiscal certainty that supports employment and income generation, capital investment, and increased economic activity.
“This has allowed my Administration, the Andrew Holness Administration, to present nine consecutive budgets with no net new taxes. More than that, my Administration has actively reduced the tax burden on the country’s people,” he said.
Holness also announced that the national minimum wage would be increased from J$13,000 (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) to J$15,000 for a 40-hour work week, effective June 1.
The minimum wage for industrial security guards is from $14,000 to $15,000 per week.
In a significant move to address generational poverty, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of the Jamaica 60 HOPE For Children Trust Fund.
The Fund, seeded by annual government contributions and open to private donations, will be accessible to any child born on or after the 60th anniversary of independence who is on PATH or is a Ward of the State.
The Prime Minister says the accumulated funds, including interest, will be accessible by the child on or after their 18th birthday for specific purposes such as education or business investment. He says the programme is to provide children with a lump sum upon reaching adulthood to give them a start in life.
The Prime Minister then addressed the lack of access to several beaches nationwide.
He told legislators that the Government has crafted a beach access and management policy to be tabled at the next sitting of the House of Representatives.
The policy ensures that beaches are preserved and sustainably managed for present and future generations, providing access for Jamaicans and visitors.
“There is one thing to speak about access. There is another thing that enables access. We believe everybody must get access. They give their words; we give you the beach. Some people talk about beach access, we give you beach access,” Holness said.
He also said the Government will upgrade several beaches across the island for public access.
Turning to the island’s road network, he said the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project, when completed, will be renamed in honor of National Hero Paul Bogle.
Bogle was a leader of the 1865 Morant Bay protesters who marched for justice and fair treatment for all the people in Jamaica – a march that led to the Morant Bay rebellion.
He was conferred with the Order of the National Hero in 1969.
Holness also addressed the matter surrounding his wife, Juliet Holness, concerning her position as Speaker of the House.
On Tuesday, during the main opposition Peoples’ National Party (PNP) leader’s contribution to the budget debate, Mark Golding questioned Mrs. Holness’ impartiality as House Speaker, given her relationship with the Prime Minister.
This led to a walkout by government members.
But on Thursday, as he opened the debate, Holness paid tribute to his wife. To loud applause from members on the government benches, he said Juliet Holness’s accomplishments were due to her hard work.
“(She is) an independent woman, a self-made woman, who has achieved all that she had on her effort, in her own right,” he said.
Meanwhile, opposition legislators attended Thursday’s budget debate. However, there was speculation that they would boycott the remainder of the discussion after Opposition Leader Mark Golding could not complete his presentation on Tuesday due to lacking a quorum.
A statement from the PNP on Thursday morning said its caucus of parliamentarians convened and thoroughly deliberated on its attendance at Thursday’s sitting of the House.
The opposition members, who initially appeared absent, walked into Gordon House shortly after the parliamentary sitting was convened on Thursday afternoon.
The PNP said its decision was guided by its unwavering commitment to serving the people of Jamaica.
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