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Dr. Peter Phillips, the opposition People's National Party's Spokiesman on Finance, is demanding a detailed explanation from the new Jamaican Government on the plan to provide income tax relief to PAYE workers earning up to J$1.5 million annually.
Phillips, speaking at a press conference on Monday, said there were growing concerns about what he described as the misrepresentation of facts and issues concerning the Energy Stabilisation Fund by Finance Minister Audley Shaw.
The Government was planning to use proceeds from the Fund to fill the revenue gap with the implementation of its tax policy. But according to Phillips, this has several implications.
"It doesn't auger well for the standards that we expect from the statements of a Minister of Finance. The standards of truthfulness and the expectation and the understanding about the implications of statements for confidence in the Jamaican authorities and for economic confidence in the economy generally."
Phillips is also demanding a public declaration on the state of the economy ahead of the 2016-2017 Budget debate.
Opposition to be vigilant
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson-Miller, speaking at the same press conference, declared that, with the close results from the February 25 general election (ending with a one-vote majority for the winning party) the country can expect the PNP to be vigilant in monitoring the Government's performance.
"I have mandated each spokesperson to establish a taskforce for their subject area. The taskforce must support each spokesperson and encourage wide participation in their work, we will keep the government on its toes in all areas," Simpson Miller said.
Preparing for Local Government elections
Meanwhile, the PNP has declared that its campaign team is in place and it's busy making preparations for the Local Government Election. PNP Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson says the campaign team is led by the Party's Vice-President and Opposition Spokesman on Local Government, Noel Arscott.
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