Opposition PNP promises to EASE burden on Jamaicans

 

The opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is promising to roll out a programme called ‘EASE’ to help lessen the effects of the high cost of living on Jamaicans.

 

That was among a slew of measures outlined by Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson as he made his contribution to the Budget Debate on Thursday.

 

Mr. Robinson had a lengthy run-up to the wicket, outlining what the last PNP administration did in the 2012-2016 period to rescue Jamaica's economy and save the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement.

 

After looking at key data showing macro-economic improvements, he eventually fired his opening shot, insisting the Jamaica Labour Party government could not “claim paternity for fixing the economy, and if they tried to claim paternity, we would call it a ‘jacket’. And if you did the DNA, the DNA would say anuh fi dem pickney, a PNP pickney”.  

 

Despite the positives, the opposition spokesman argued that some Jamaicans are struggling to make ends meet.

 

If the PNP forms the next government, they are promising to roll out the EASE programme - Ensuring Adequate Sustenance for Education.

 

Mr. Robinson pointed out that many Jamaicans are burdened by the cost of sending their children to school, and with many not being able to afford it, this often leads to inconsistent attendance or children going to school hungry.

 

Hungry children, he stressed, “can’t learn, can't learn, and are unable to achieve their full potential”.

 

In light of this, he said a PNP government would ensure, under the EASE programme, that every needy student at the primary and secondary level receives one nutritious meal at school.

 

Mr. Robinson said this will extend to needy students who are not on the PATH programme.

 

The PNP is also promising to give beneficiaries of the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) an additional six months before they start repaying their loans.

 

“Many of those who graduate need more time to settle themselves in the workforce. Giving them another six months will allow them that time to get the kind of job and to be able to start the repayment,” he said.

 

SLB beneficiaries will also be able to renegotiate their monthly payments, based on their level of income.

 

"Let's say you borrow at $5 million and your repayment is $30,000 a month, but you haven't gotten the kind of job that allows you to pay the $30,000 a month, but you're paying $20,000 a month.... The challenge with the system right now is that even though you are paying the $20,000 that you can afford every month, you are considered delinquent and in default,” he explained.

 

He noted that with the advent of the credit reporting systems, this would mean that those students become confined to bad credit scores, which would make it more difficult for them to buy a house or car.  

 

“We are going to reform the SLB to do away with that categorisation of delinquency and being in default,” he said, adding that beneficiaries will have to demonstrate their income levels and maintain payments so they won't be considered in default.

 

Retired seniors 65 years and older will also get a reprieve, with the opposition spokesman announcing a plan to introduce a flat rate for their National Water Commission (NWC) bills that will help to ease the financial burden. He noted, however, that it will not be one rate across the board “because people have different consumption patterns, and so we will work out what that rate is”.

 

In the meantime, the opposition is also promising to waive corporate income tax for new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for three years.

 

There is also a promise to phase out the asset tax on financial institutions, such as banks, over a five-year period.