Banking ransom for SOE - PNP to leverage support for trade-off against ‘exorbitant fees’

The fate of the ongoing states of emergency (SOEs), the Government’s main crime-fighting tool, appears to rest squarely with whether the Andrew Holness administration throws its support behind the Banking Bill of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), The Gleaner has learnt.

When the House of Representatives debated and voted on the Fitz Jackson-piloted private member’s bill in February, it was rejected 30-29 as the whip was applied to government MPs, forcing them to vote along strict party lines rather than on conscience.

Jackson’s bill seeks to prevent deposit-taking institutions such as commercial banks from charging customers “arbitrary and exorbitant fees”. At the time of its defeat, Jackson warned, “It is not over. It is not over.” He followed up with full-page advertisements showing all government MPs who voted against the bill.

The Gleaner understands that Jackson, the opposition spokesman on national security and the chairman of the PNP, has been under pressure from “ordinary Jamaicans”, including those who make up the base of the PNP, will be stepping up his advocacy in a bid to force the prime minister to allow a conscience vote on the matter.

“He is prepared to make another attempt at it. This time, the SOEs, which the PNP has insisted have not worked since both murders and shootings are up this year when compared to last year, are on the table. It could be nothing for nothing going forward,” said a senior party representative who requested anonymity.

PRESSURE MOUNTING

The Gleaner has been reliably informed that Jackson, who is also member of parliament for St Catherine South, is actively raising funds from small businesses and individuals to launch a sustained media campaign against what he believes are unjust banking fees and the unwillingness of the Government to protect depositors.

“The MP is under pressure. The party is under pressure. People are asking how come the Opposition continues to willingly cooperate with the Government to ensure the SOEs remain in force yet gets nothing in return. We have supported the administration for nearly two years despite our misgivings, yet they applauded and beat their desks when they voted down a bill that would benefit tens of thousands of ordinary Jamaicans,” our source said.

Our source acknowledged that the PNP withdrew its support from the SOEs that were in force in St James and the St Catherine North Police Division last December but noted that the party has cooperated with the Government for all of 2019 that SOEs have been in force.

“We are not anybody’s lapdog. There must be some trade-off where the ordinary Jamaican can benefit by not having their money taken away by the arbitrary and dishonest application of banking fees. Something has to give.

“The banks must show that they actually care about people and not just mega profits, and the Holness administration must walk the talk and prove once and for all that it is not just all about the big man,” our source added.

Efforts to reach Jackson for comment were unsuccessful. However, a source told The Gleaner that the PNP aimed to make banking fees part of its election campaign platform in the next general election, due by 2021, and that “Jamaicans will get a chance to show that Holness has not pulled the wool over their eyes with his fancy talk”.

Specifically, the PNP, according to persons with intimate knowledge of party discussions, will be fine-tuning a message that is centred around perceived injustices meted out to ordinary Jamaicans by the Government.

These include the treatment of small farmers on the Bernard Lodge lands and the eviction of vendors from the Constant Spring Market.

“We will let Jamaicans see clearly that this Government is about giving them scraps while others flourish. We won’t allow it to continue,” a senior party insider said.

Jackson has publicly stated that if the Holness administration does not pass the Banking Bill, the PNP will do so within the first 90 days of taking over the reins of government.

As at December 21, murders have risen 3.7 per cent over the corresponding period in 2018, with 1,302 people slain.

SOEs implemented in seven of 19 police divisions have had mixed results, with murders showing year-on-year declines in Hanover, Westmoreland, Clarendon, and St Catherine North. However, murders have spiked in St James, St Catherine South, and St Andrew South.

Meanwhile, murders have ballooned in the metro parishes of Kingston, St Andrew, and St Catherine, with six of eight divisions recording increases – Kingston Central the worst, with a 140 per cent jump. Nationally, shootings are up in 13 of the 19 police divisions.

editorial@gleanerjm.com