Tufton
DR. CHRISTOPHER Tufton, president of Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), said yesterday that the announcement by Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, that there would be no new taxes this fiscal year, was a "misleading claim".
Speaking at a G2K community meeting at the Port of Call Hotel in Black River, St. Elizabeth, yesterday, Dr. Tufton said the increase in user-fees for public services amounted to a tax package that would severely impact on poorer citizens. According to Dr. Tufton, Dr. Davies was "disingenuous" for suggesting that many current user-fees are unrealistic and below costs. He also said it was expected that the respective taxes would help to pay for certain basic services including health.
While noting that the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) cater to the most vulnerable in the society, Dr. Tufton said, "It cannot be a good sign that as a country we are depending more, not less, on programmes designed for the poor and destitute."
Additionally, he said, many persons who were deemed eligible, were still not benefiting.
The G2K president said, his organisation, as part of a special project, would be monitoring these programmes to ensure that the Government honours its commitment to protect the most vulnerable in the society.
