Dear Editor,

While we acknowledge the necessity of increasing revenues at this time, it is undeniable that the tax package announced a few days ago is unjust and oppresive as it seeks to squeeze more out of the poorest Jamaicans. The package seems aimed directly at the poorest Jamaicans with taxes being applied to some of the basic staples.

While we acknowledge the need to increase revenues, we also acknowledge that any such programme must be accompanied by a simultaneous reduction in expenses. While the public sector rationalisation team is at work, trying to reduce the public sector, the PM has not made any move publicly to reduce the size of his Cabinet. In fact, between the public commitment to reduce the size of the Cabinet and the announcement of this regressive tax package, the size of the Cabinet has increased. Shame on you, Mr Golding.

I call on Mr Golding and the JLP to “rewind and come again”. While the taxes on the poor are being increased, those on the holders of government bonds and treasury bills should be increased also. Forget capital flight. It was these same Jamaicans who were willing to restructure the public debt; a nominal increase in the tax on government paper and treasury bills should not result in capital flight if these are truly patriotic Jamaicans.

Second, why not increase the rate of tax collection? At present, a measly 50 per cent of taxes due are being collected, and believe me, we the poorest are not the ones dodging the tax net. So while we welcome the move to increase revenue, we call on the government to level the playing field, starting with the reduction in the size of the Cabinet and the civil service, an increase in the tax on government paper and an increase in the rate of collection of taxes due. Then and only then would this new tax package be acceptable to every well-thinking Jamaican. Until then you have lost us, Mr Golding.

With this mountain of new taxes, even “born Labourites” are up in arms. Where are the people’s representatives? Where do we turn? Tribalised marches will not solve our problems, but remember the words, Mr Golding, “No taxation without representation”.

Arnold Benedict

zherubabbel@gmail.com