Police monitor protestors near Jamaica House

[Lazie]

A group of People’s National Party (PNP) supporters are now being closely watched by police with riot shields, close to Jamaica House.
The group of PNP supporters this morning gathered at the Hagley Park Plaza along Hagley Park Road and marched to Jamaica House to deliver a letter to Prime Minister, Bruce Golding. The protestors are being kept at least 200 yards away from Jamaica House.

The protest action is to show their displeasure with the government's recently announced tax package. Among the changes the youth group wants and has outlined in the letter is for a roll back of the gas tax and for the government not to charge GCT on previously zero-rated items.

Damion Crawford, president of the PNPYO and Raymond Pryce, chairman of the PNP's young professional arm, The Patriots, are among the group gathered at the plaza. The police are keeping a close eye on the group.
“The PNPYO is rubbishing the new tax package that has been presented by the Minister of Finance Mr. Audley Shaw in Parliament yesterday. The members of the PNP Youth Organization are dissatisfied that the Jamaica Labour Party government believes that as a people we are sufficiently under educated so as to facilitate their predisposition to trickery and showmanship,” the group said in a release issued last Friday.

The PNPYO also said in the release that it would be demanding the appropriate responses to the proposals and concerns outlined in the letter

[Mosiah]

The members of the PNP Youth Organization are dissatisfied that the Jamaica Labour Party government believes that as a people we are sufficiently under educated so as to facilitate their predisposition to trickery and showmanship,” the group said in a release issued last Friday.

Perhaps they should have done more for education when they were in power??!

[Assasin]

"It is a very upset NEC. Speaker after speaker say people are asking them what are they going to do and they have been calming the people. NEC members don't represent themselves, they represent various bodies and the report from all of them is that people are very restive," said Mr. Pickersgill.

from RJR.

[Don1]

Perhaps they should have done more for education when they were in power??!

This action is truly a joke.

[Mosiah]

What action?

[Don1]

What action?

a demonstration based on the premise that they state.

[Mosiah]

i know. politicians!

[Comment]

This action is truly a joke.

No. It is par for the course....all is fair in love and politics.

[Lazie]

Golding turns down PNPYO's request - Estimated grand total = $19.3 billion

Published: Tuesday | April 28, 2009


Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Members of the People's National Party Youth Organisation march to Jamaica House to deliver a letter outlining their concerns about the Government's $18-billion tax package, while police personnel look on. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
Prime Minister Bruce Golding has refused a request from the People's National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) to discuss alternatives to Government's recently announced $18 billion tax package.
PNPYO President Damion Crawford yesterday led a small group of protesters to Jamaica House, taking with him a letter containing what he said were alternatives to the tax measures outlined by Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw last Thursday.
However, in a release from Jamaica House yesterday, Golding said he expected the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) to use the Budget Debate to air its concerns about the Budget and the $18 billion tax package that was announced.
"I expect that the concerns you have raised and the proposals you have put forward will be included in the presentations to be made by participating members of the Opposition, to which the Government will respond appropriately," Golding said in his letter to the PNPYO.
However, Crawford said the response was "unsatisfactory". He said the PNP did not speak for the PNPYO and that the organisation he led would be making its view known through islandwide protests next Monday.
"We are disappointed because some of the taxes have not been reserved until the Budget Debate has ended. We had hoped to meet with the prime minister and discuss what we believe are credible objectives but, yet again, in his own dictatorial style, he has imposed what he believes is right on the people and has refused us audience," Crawford said.
He added: "If he had waited until the Budget Debate was complete before imposing the taxes, then we would have also waited until after the Debate to give our suggestions."
Already, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller has urged Jamaicans to wear black today as a mark of protest against the tax package.
She said Jamaicans should also turn their headlights on and honk their horns in protest against the tax package.

Alternatives proposed by the PNPYO
1) Increase tax

on interest at holding on bonds from 25 per cent to 33.33 per cent reflects what is proposed to be charged on dividends to overseas. This will lead to an earning of $9 billion and would impact more of those who can afford it and also those who benefited from the high interest-rate policy.
2) Charge a 15 per cent tax on dividends. This used to be 25 per cent until it was removed to have more people become listed. This objective was never achieved and recently, the zero taxation was extended to the non-listed person. This will earn approximately $2 billion.
3) Collect the outstanding $8 billion in GCT. The collection of even 50 per cent of this GCT, which was paid over to merchants but not transferred to the Government, will yield an additional $4 billion. The Government should endeavour to collect 75 per cent of this outstanding amount from these merchants, which will see the generation of $6 billion.
4) Increase all sin taxes - $0.5 billion.
5) Sign a memorandum of understanding with hotels whereby only those that consume 60 per cent of their total purchases in Jamaican products can receive the half GCT waiver.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...ead/lead5.html

[Lazie]

"However, Crawford said the response was "unsatisfactory". He said the PNP did not speak for the PNPYO"

Wow! So mek mi get this. The Opposition spokesperson on Finance will be making his presentation today and these proposals they putting forward they didn't discuss with Dr. Davies?

[Willi]

Yeah, its a silly statement...especially since some of their suggestions are actually worthy of consideration.

[Don1]

"However, Crawford said the response was "unsatisfactory". He said the PNP did not speak for the PNPYO"

Wow! So mek mi get this. The Opposition spokesperson on Finance will be making his presentation today and these proposals they putting forward they didn't discuss with Dr. Davies?

Why would they have to coordinate with or just echo Davies' position? ... they are a separate organization and entitled to their own opinions which may be different from the party central.

[Lazie]

Why would they have to coordinate with or just echo Davies' position? ... they are a separate organization and entitled to their own opinions which may be different from the party central.

.. but Don1, Dr. Davies will be going to Parliament today, wouldn't it make more sense to sit with Dr. Davies and his team, instead of trying to grandstand?

Currently listening to NNN Crawford and Ethlyn Norton-Coke are both on. The first thing Mrs. Coke point out is that all the points he put forward has been proposed already. Now, is it possible that talking with Dr. Davies he would have been aware of that?

[Mosiah]

Grandstand?!? Did you have a problem with the 1999 grandstand?

[Lazie]

Grandstand?!? Did you have a problem with the 1999 grandstand?

Stop being so sensitive for a change nuh?