His Excellency. Kenneth Hall, Governor-General of Jamaica, in discussion with Beverley Lopez (centre), president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), and Earl Jarrett during the PSOJ 30th Anniversary members' luncheon at Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston, on Friday, March 17. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
PRIVATE SECTOR Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) president Beverly Lopez is recommending that the Government impose no further taxes in the upcoming budget, as Jamaicans are already heavily taxed.
She is suggesting initiatives to encourage broader participation in the payment of taxes. These include a broad tax amnesty; that government and public sector should be subject to the same taxes as those levied on private businesses to force these agencies to appreciate the real cost of doing business in Jamaica; the removal of tax on dividends for private companies; that public sector employees be required to invest in a contributory pension fund; and for the rationalisation of special funds, cesses and user fees which every ministry seems to be setting up.
CALL FOR EFFECTIVE CRIME PLAN
She also recommended that the resources required in the fight against crime and violence, and the restoration of law and order be prioritised, urging the new Prime Minister to implement an effective crime plan that will not only reduce homicides, but restore civility to our society, particularly by supporting programmes which help to empower the youth.
She was addressing the 30th anniversary celebrations of the PSOJ at the Hilton Kingston hotel last month. In his keynote address, Governor-General Kenneth Hall congratulated the PSOJ on its advocacy for programmes and policies that support the building of a strong private sector, based on the principle of private enterprise as an agent for development, economic change and social stability.
The Governor-General argued that since its inception, the PSOJ had articulated a vision of Jamaica that included the establishment and strengthening of institutions, but it now had evolved into one of the significant partners whose voice and influence transcended its particular focus of fostering private enterprise, mainly by aligning itself with prevailing philosophical trends of social evolution, effective governance and political stability.
ENGINE OF GROWTH
He argued that due to the PSOJ's success, the private sector is now viewed as the engine of growth that controls the commanding heights of the economy. Consequently, it is expected to assume responsibilities that once were left to the public sector. In his view, the assumption and recognition of that role was demonstrated in activities such as the 'Stand up for Jamaica' rally, 'Reclaim Jamaica Forum' and the 'Code of Political Conduct'.
PSOJ President Beverly Lopez used the anniversary lunch to acknowledge the attendance of past presidents Douglas Orane and Roy Collister, member of the PSOJ Hall of Fame Maurice Facey, and former executive director Charles Ross. She also acknowledged the key role of GraceKennedy's Carlton Alexander, the first president of the PSOJ, its first executive director Anthony Abrahams, and past presidents Sam Mahfood and Oliver Clarke at its inception.
