KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government was this afternoon chastened by Opposition Spokesman on finance, Dr Peter Phillips, as the first government in Jamaica’s history to tax health insurance.

Phillips criticised the proposed tax as inconceivable, and burdensome on the poorest in Jamaican society.

The Opposition spokesman, while making his rebuttal to the budget proposed by Finance Minister Audley Shaw last week, said the proposed tax on health insurance premiums would have serious effects on employers and individuals.

Shaw, who took issue with Phillip’s referencing that costs are to be borne by individuals, from his seat, loudly repeated that the proposed tax was meant for group health insurance policies. 

However, Phillips retorted that the minister should “understand what he readeth” and said that employees would ultimately have to bear costs as businesses face competitive realities too.

The former minister of finance had earlier said that he could not believe that Health Minister Christopher Tufton had agreed to the tax.

Yakum Fitz-Henley