Cut public sector, trim JDF budget
Published:Saturday | April 26, 2014 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
As the debate rages regarding the Government's proposal for the implementation of a withdrawal tax, there continue to be strong objections.
It has been suggested that this tax is the best available option to plug the revenue gap in the Budget. Another option, borrowing, is a non-starter as our current national debt is already a liability.
I agree with the opposition spokesman on finance that the Government ought to look for the source of funding by cutting the public sector. To this end, it should be possible to look at areas of the public sector that provide services such as solid waste management that could be better provided by the private sector.
Sometimes we are attached to institutions by loyalty and even sentiment, but our discussions and decisions in these circumstances, given the obvious perilous state of our country's finances, should not be stifled by such notions.
Our decisions have to be bold, without malice and above partisan considerations, and must serve our country's future.
My loyal and sentimental attachments are deeply connected to the Jamaica Defence Force for obvious reasons. I also believe the JDF continues to serve a purpose, but can we truly afford it at this time? Shouldn't we be looking at whether our defence budget can be cut?
If we don't make bold and courageous decisions now, we are going to be repeating this exercise in 2015 with proposals that are more 'cruel and iniquitous' than the withdrawal tax.
ALLAN DOUGLAS
Retired Colonel