Tax protest still possible, says PNP

THE Opposition People's National Party (PNP) says it has not shelved plans to take to the streets if the Government does not respond with a more meaningful tax-reduction package in the upcoming Budget exercise.

Retreating from its planned protest for Tuesday, on the heels of a temporary rollback of the rate of the ad valorem tax on fuel by the Government, the PNP said it was not playing a game of chess with the Golding administration.

Robert Pickersgill, chairman of the party, told journalists during a press conference at the PNP headquarters on Old Hope Road, St Andrew, that the Opposition reserved the right to take appropriate action to force Government to ease the burden of high prices and high taxes on Jamaicans.

The party chairman warned the administration that the Opposition's decision to recoil was not an indication that it was satisfied with the Government's response.

He says the PNP postponed its action to allow Jamaicans to discuss the new tax proposals.

Yesterday, the Golding administration adjusted the ad valorem tax on fuel after mounting pressure from sector groups and the Opposition threatened to spill over on to the streets.

The administration reduced the rate of the ad valorem tax on petrol, moving it from 15 per cent to 10 per cent, effective tomorrow.

And the Opposition has castigated the Government for ignoring calls to remove the general consumption tax on electricity.

don't relinquish right

Responding to concerns by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) that protests could trigger civil disorder, PNP General Secretary Peter Bunting indicated that the action would have been peaceful and orderly.

However, he argued that the right to protest, which "our ancestors fought hard to get", should not be relinquished "because one or two private-sector organisations express doubt about that".

Dr Omar Davies, opposition spokesman on finance, said the country had a right to know what has been the monthly intake by the Government of the tax on fuel.

He said taxpayers should also be provided with details on what percentage of the gas tax was being transferred to the Road Maintenance Fund.