KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) Keith Duncan has taken issue with a Jamaica Observer report saying that he stated that the Government may have to look at putting its flagship public works programme, Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK), on the chopping block and ditch plans for a reverse income tax credit if tax shortfalls seen in March persist in the current fiscal year.

The report, carried in the Observer’s Friday business publication Caribbean Business Report on May 3, 2024, emanated from Duncan’s comments during EPOC’s Quarterly press briefing held on Thursday.

“I would like to make it abundantly clear that I made no statement about SPARK or the Tax Credit Programme ‘being on the cutting table’ as reported in the Jamaica Observer on May 3, 2024,” Duncan said in a letter to the Observer.

Duncan said he was making the link between SPARK as a one-off expenditure in the financial year 24/25 and linking it to the flows from the Securitisation Programme.

“With regards to the Income Tax Credit, I spoke to the take up of those eligible for the tax credit,” he said, adding, “If this report has led anyone to that conclusion, I hope this note brings clarity.”

“I have no authority or status to make a recommendation around adjustments to Government of Jamaica budgeted expenditures,” he said in his letter.