The Patriots, a caucus of young professionals aligned to the PNP are encouraging legislators to reject and review the Governments’ 2017 budget proposal until crippling tax measures are struck out. The Patriots are warning that for young professionals, small business owners and Jamaica’s working class, this is the worst budget proposal in the country’s recent history.
“If it passes we will face cruel unequaled financial stress, and some of the country’s public services will buckle under the greater pressures bound to confront them”, the Patriots’ Chairman, Javette Nixon warned.
He fears that Audley Shaw’s revenue raising measures are a threat to the survival of young professionals in Jamaica. “The 2017 budget proposal will condemn many of us and our young families to dependence on charity for survival and development”, Nixon said.
The Patriots General Secretary, Omar Newell, was tasked with surveying members of the national organization representing PNP young professionals. According to Newell, many employed young professionals expect a heavier financial burden this year with higher health and pension deductions.
Newell says, “on top of this, many of us who are now saving to purchase a first home will be confronted with higher fuel costs at the pumps, higher fees at our tax offices and anticipate increases in overall transportation costs for transporting people and goods.
“Shaw’s pie in the sky promises on the campaign trail and inconsistent burdensome and onerous economic measures is a perfect example of why there is growing apathy among young people in this country.
“The government should explain to us how higher health insurance costs will promote a healthy lifestyle and address the shortcomings in our public health facilities” Newell said. “Many small business may opt to have their staff use public health facilities in order to save on this new expenses” he added.
Nixon says Patriots want the Finance Minister to roll back his proposed 16% hike on group health insurance, leave the electricity consumption threshold as is, place a greater burden on owners of high-end vehicles in his licensing regime, commit to do more with the NHT apart from raiding its coffers and tax the movement of large volumes of foreign currency across Jamaica.
The Patriots Chairman also said that his members expect Mr. Shaw to keep his promise to minimum wage earners, arrive at a new consensus with ALL trade unions representing those being asked to pay 5% of earnings towards pensions and explore more public-private partnerships to help resource and improve public services.
Nixon quoted Winston Churchill, Britain’s wise World War II leader to send a strong message to the Finance Minister, “For a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle”, he said.
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Contact:
Javette Nixon, Chairman
Telephone #: 432-5707
Omar Newell, General Secretary
Telephone # 388-1368
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