KINGTON, Jamaica — Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson Miller is to make her contribution to the 2017/2018 Budget Debate today at Gordon House.

Her contribution to the debate is expected to be her last major budget speech in Parliament before her retirement.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) led administration on March 9 presented a $13.5-billion tax package, which it said it will not be resiling from despite growing disquiet from various sectors.

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

In his contribution to the debate, Opposition spokesman on Finance, Dr Peter Phillips on Tuesday said the budget tabled by the finance minister does not advance the country’s economic reform programme, adding that Shaw was “robbing the poor to pay the rich”.

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.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is expected to make his contribution to the debate on Tuesday, March 21, and Shaw will close the debate on Wednesday, March 22, when the new revenue measures will be tabled.