Dear Editor,

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, I feel compelled to write this open letter to you, although I am not sure that you will pay much attention to it, but based on what is happening in Jamaica with the cost of living, I do hope that you will hear our plight.

As a senior citizen who has to be paying income tax from my pension on a monthly basis at the age of 70 plus, I am asking you, through the Ministry of Finance, to exempt retirees over age 65 from paying income tax. Or, if they have to, reduced the amount to 12.5 per cent.

In fact, retirees that are over 65 and have been being paying income tax should be refunded what was taken from them in full, or receive at least 12.5 per cent of the total amount paid.

Sir, it is really hard on us the retirees as we don’t get increases, but everything that increases we have to pay, like doctor’s visits; medication; medical procedures; special types of food because of sickness; and the same price for petrol as that of the working person, if you drive. My firm belief is that the Government does not care about retirees or senior citizens, the people that built this country.

I would hope that you take a good look and do something to help the senior citizens by Christmas.

Daniel williams

A senior citizen

djwilliams.jm67@gmail.com