THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday said it was prepared to mount a street protest in Kingston against the proposed streetlight cess and labelled the government’s decision to implement the levy “foolish”.

“The Opposition stands ready to promote a massive march in the Corporate Area for JLP, PNP and others if the Government does not reconsider this foolish decision,” the JLP said in a statement sent to media houses at approximately the same time that business leaders were delivering to Prime Minister P J Patterson, outside Parliament, their proposal for a roll-back of the cess.

“We’re considering your representations. You’ll hear from us in the course of tomorrow (today),” Patterson told the group that included Jamaica Chamber of Commerce president, Anthony Chang and Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association president, Clarence Clarke.

The group had earlier met with Phillip Paulwell, the industry minister who had been ordered by Patterson Monday to hold urgent talks with the business leaders.

Opposition to the cess has been growing steadily since the Government, on February 26, announced its intention to peg at 3.14 per cent the surcharge it will add to monthly electricity bills in order to fund the maintenance and expansion of street lighting services.

The administration expects to raise $540 million from the cess and has argued that the new revenue measure is necessary because the money collected from property taxes is inadequate to fund both street lighting and garbage collection.

But the JLP, which has vowed to roll-back the cess if it forms the next government after elections this year, said yesterday that the public will end up paying the cess twice “because the 3.14 per cent increase will be added to the cost of goods and services”.

The party said that the higher cost will force many producers and suppliers of service to cut staff because of reduced sales due to the inability of consumers to afford paying more.

The JLP recommended that the money to maintain and expand streetlight services should be taken from the $2 billion the administration expects to raise from increases in property taxes.