KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) spokesman on Finance, Dr Peter Phillips will today make his contribution to the 2017-2018 budget debate at Gordon House.

The PNP on Friday charged that the most vulnerable in society will be hit the hardest by the “unconscionable” tax package presented by Finance Minister, Audley Shaw on Thursday.

The Opposition in a news release said it deems the tax package “as unconscionable and a betrayal of the trust the people of Jamaica placed in their Government”.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday signalled that it will not be resiling from its $13.5-billion tax package, despite the growing disquiet from various sectors.

Revenue measures outlined by the government includes tax on gasoline, group health insurance, increases in the special consumption taxes on tobacco products and pure alcohol, as well as a 20 per cent spike in motor vehicle licensing fees, the re-imposition of withholding tax on general insurance premiums paid by Jamaican residents to non-residents, and a lowering of the kilowatt-hour usage for residential electricity that GCT is charged on from 350kwh per month to 150kwh.