Phillips criticises Shaw's one-month plans for taxation committee

Opposition spokesman on Finance Dr Peter Phillips has scoffed at a suggestion from Finance Minister Audley Shaw that the committee on taxation sit for no more than a month.

Speaking during a town-hall meeting hosted by the Kingston and St Andrew parish development committee at the PCJ auditorium last night, Phillips said the proposals contained in a Green Paper have far-reaching effects and cannot be rushed.

He said Shaw's suggestion that the committee limit itself to a month is "a totally unrealistic deadline given the weightiness of the proposal".

Phillips said: "We are not trying to delay it ... . But the Opposition will not countenance these matters being rushed through the Parliament."

Shaw, who is to chair the tax reform committee, told The Gleaner recently that the Green Paper has been in the public domain for long enough and that he does not intend to have the committee sit longer than a month.

Shaw had also invited the public to make submissions to the committee by tomorrow, but Phillips said that date was too short a time.

Joseph Cox, who chairs the Kingston and St Andrew committee, said though having limited time his group would ensure it makes the deadline.