Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Planning and the Public Service, Julian Robinson, says Jamaicans are not reaping the benefits of the stable economy being touted by the Government, with a majority living pay cheque to pay cheque.

“The narrative of macroeconomic stability has not translated into substantial improvements in the daily lives of the Jamaican populace,” Robinson said on Thursday as he made his contribution to the 2024/25 Budget Debate.

“For most Jamaicans, the frustrating hand-to-mouth, can’t-make-ends-meet struggle is the reality. A significant portion of our working populace lives pay cheque to pay cheque, and for those without a pay cheque life is even more difficult,” Robinson remarked.

He argued that consumers are getting less and paying more every day.

“Prices are high, and wages are low. For the most vulnerable, life is precarious: many days there are people who wake up in the morning with no clue where their first and possibly only meal of the day will come from,” Robinson added.

Pointing out that a patty, a Jamaican staple once considered affordable, now costs $250, while a loaf of bread costs between $400 and $500, Robinson asked “How are poor people to survive?”

The Opposition spokesman said the government was not doing enough to cushion the effects of high prices on the poor. He pointed out that despite a marginal increase in benefits under the PATH programme, nearly 285,000 beneficiaries were receiving a mere $38,000 per year which works out at roughly J$730 a week, or about $104 per day.

“That $730 per week can’t even pay for a low-cost, nutritionally balanced diet for one person for one day a week. We must do better than this,” Robinson said.