Sunday’s announcement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness of a 53 per cent cut in the General Consumption Tax (GCT) component on electricity bills and other promises, including a $20,000 one-off payment to certain vulnerable Jamaicans, have been described by the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) as a “vote-buying scheme”.

Holness had made several promises at the public session of the Jamaica Labour Party‘s 81st annual conference at the National Arena in St Andrew, saying that they are geared at helping Jamaicans cushion the rising cost of living.

Opposition leader and PNP President Mark Golding led the criticism of the prime minister’s announcements during a press conference held Tuesday morning at the Office of the Opposition Leader in St Andrew.

Party members, including its spokesman on energy Phillip Paulwell, stated that the announced cut in the GCT from 15 per cent to seven per cent will not benefit up to 75 per cent of Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) customers in any meaningful way.

“The promised reduction of the rate of General Consumption Tax on electricity will not impact the majority of JPS customers who consume less than 150 kilowatt hours per month of electricity and already benefit from the tax exemption introduced by the Portia Simpson Miller Administration,” Golding said, adding that the greater savings from the tax rate reduction will accrue to wealthier customers who consume more electricity.

In relation to the waiver of market fees for craft vendors, Golding described the gesture as meagre and said it “does not affect their plight”.

According to Golding, the vendors “want a level playing field for doing business”.

The Opposition leader also criticised the prime minister’s announcement that certain vulnerable Jamaicans who are not captured as part of any social intervention programme and who did not benefit from the $20,000 reverse income tax payment will get a one-off payment next year.

“The so-called reverse income tax credit is to be turned into a $20,000 money giveaway. It is a blatant run-with-it vote-buying scheme for the next election,” Golding said, adding that it was being offered at a time when the economy was contracting and experiencing negative economic growth.

According to Golding, the results of the recent parish council by-elections in Morant Bay, St Thomas and Aenon Town, Clarendon, which were won by the PNP indicate that “the Jamaican people are not for sale and are determined to have a change of government”.

For his part, Paulwell argued out that the cut in the GCT on electricity disproportionately benefits high income earners.

“More than 75 per cent of households will experience minimal relief with savings capped at around $237 per month,” Paulwell said.

And PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell said that he will realise savings of just about $500 per month on his $15,500 monthly electricity bill.

“The 53 per cent savings that I will get on a monthly basis is $547 for the month. It is the same as a pound of carrots… One pound of carrot is what the Government is offering to me, as a productive citizen as an attempt to say that they’re cushioning the [cost of living] crisis,” Campbell stated.

Golding said what was needed is strong and capable leadership to drive down electricity costs in Jamaica through a transformation of the energy sector.

“The PNP has a plan to achieve this and a shadow minister with a track record of achieving it,” he said.