Op-Ed: The Pulse of Jamaica’s Poor

By Ramesh Sujanani
Op-Ed Contributor

A recent headline in Jamaica called for the resignation of the country’s Education Minister if he disagreed with the imposition of the general consumption tax on basic foods.

I had to clean my spectacles and read again: the same result. The remark, by Jamaica’s previous Prime Minister, was that the Minister should follow the party line, or party position, or resign.

I did not know that if one belonged to a political party, or a government in power, or worked for an employer, that his personal principles and feelings must be subjugated to theirs?

Every person has an opinion or personal belief which may or may not be consistent with his party’s position, though, officially, he might be required to support the party position.

On the other hand, if an issue like taxation becomes oppressive to the poor, then it must be reviewed by unbiased persons to arrive at some resolution.

That is where taxation on basic food items is now in Jamaica.

Does not anyone care that Jamaica’s poor are getting less earnings or income than before?

One must appreciate the conclusion that they are eating less; have fewer options for medication, and are leaving visits to the doctor, “for now.”

It also means fewer books, less time at school and a general degradation in an already low standard of living — joined by a frustration for young children going to school.

Successive governments in Jamaica, upon taking up political office, or preparing a new budget, usually say that we have to “tighten our belts” for a period of time, before it becomes better.

As far as I recall, there has never come a year that we have recouped financial losses, and, year after year, we slowly slide the slope of bankruptcy. We are always tightening our belts without relief.

We should always look out for the poor, because that is the source where many children of the future will emerge.

And it is the pulse of the poor we need to measure to make future decisions applicable.

I am not convinced that we need to place taxes on basic goods; the PSOJ pushed this point, and the point of reducing GCT on other goods so as to stimulate the economy.

At this time, Jamaica’s economy is not being stimulated — rather, it is being depressed (or oppressed), and food merchants are making more money in the pricing of basic commodities:  something which, I believe, was the intention all along.

Ramesh K Sujanani can be reached at rsujanani78@gmail.com.

Note: the opinions expressed in Caribbean Journal Op-Eds are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Caribbean Journal.