KINGSTON, Jamaica – Zukie Jarrett, deputy general secretary of Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has firmly rejected any attempts by the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) to take credit for the proposed increase in the duty-free threshold for personal imports scheduled for next April.

During the recent annual JLP conference, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke announced that the allowance would rise from US$50 to US$100, and the threshold for Jamaicans returning with goods purchased abroad would increase to US$1000, up from $500.

In a subsequent statement, the PNP hailed the move as progressive but argued that its president, Mark Golding, had made the recommendation in the 2022 Budget Debates.

In response to the PNP claiming credit for the move, Jarrett emphasised that the finance minister’s decision is a direct result of the JLP’s effective fiscal policies.

“We firmly reject any attempts by the PNP to claim credit for this adjustment in the taxable custom duty, as the finance minister had already indicated the Government’s commitment to adjusting the rates. The benefits going to the Jamaican people is a result of the JLP’s strategic planning and effective policies as the driving forces behind Jamaica’s success,” Jarrett said in a statement to the media.

He highlighted Clarke’s announcement as a sign of the government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment, attracting investments, and enhancing Jamaica’s global competitiveness.

He expressed that the conference was used to “showcase the Government’s notable achievements and outlined a vision for Jamaica’s prosperous future”.

“The conference resonated with a message of hope, emphasising the government’s robust macro-economic performance, exemplified by a record-low unemployment rate of 4.5 per cent. This achievement underscores the JLP’s dedication to creating jobs and fostering economic stability for the Jamaican people,” Jarrett said.