Be careful of 'quick prosperity' message - Paulwell to government

Opposition spokesperson on energy and mining and Member of Parliament for east Kingston and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell, says the government must be careful in how it sells its prosperity message to Jamaicans as it could have negative consequences.

Paulwell, who was making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament yesterday, asserted that Jamaicans have been left with empty promises from the February General Elections as he argued that there has been no real achievement.

During the General Elections the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) campaigned on the slogan 'From Poverty to Prosperity'.

The opposition and other critics have heavily criticised the JLP over its $1.5 million tax plan, which was one of its major election promises.

After insisting that it would increase the personal income tax threshold to $1.5 million retroactive to April 1, the government has since decided that it would no longer be retroactive and that the tax relief would be implemented over two financial years.

The government has received backlash for levying a $13 billion tax package to fund the first phase of tax plan, after promising during the elections that no new taxes would be imposed on Jamaicans.

Paulwell charged that the promise of quick prosperity sends a bad message.

He added that over promising and under delivering could result in the social chaos which has been seen in other countries.

The opposition spokesman contended that the government’s inability to deliver on its promises has resulted in a gradual reduction in confidence in the administration.

Paulwell argued that the situation has been made worse by expectations of more taxes in the future.