Thread by @MarkJGolding

Today's tweets from the Opposition Leader’s 2022/23 Budget Debate Presentation "There is Power In The Dream” are being made by Admin #BudgetDebate2022

In representational politics, we cannot do it alone! We rely on the support and love of many to get us through and achieve our goals. #BudgetDebate2022

To my beloved parents, who guided me in this life. To my dear wife, Sandra, our children, & extended family, I am grateful for your care & love.
To my colleagues on this side, I thank you for the support and your steadfast commitment to the people of Jamaica. #BudgetDebate2022

To my colleagues on the other side, although we disagree on many issues, I enjoy our debates and hope that we will continue to have a vibrant but respectful Parliament. BudgetDebate2022

To the great team at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, the party leadership and workers, I appreciate your hard work and dedication to our country.
To my beloved constituents of South St. Andrew, you are the wind beneath my wings.
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I thank outgoing Councillors Marcia Neita and Neville Wright for their years of tremendous service, and our Councillor Candidates Sarah Marshall and Louise Newland for their energy and commitment to the people.
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To the Hon Speaker, and to Madam Clerk and your team, I extend sincere gratitude for your work in this parliament.
To all public servants - Thank you for your dedicated service to the people of Jamaica.
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It has been a tough two years, as we have dealt with the ravages of the COVID. We have seen much suffering and death. We mourn the loss of each person who died from COVID and other causes over the last year.
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To those who lost loved ones, I extend deepest sympathies. We continue to pray for you and for the souls of the departed. We cannot speak about COVID-19 without acknowledging our frontline workers.. our doctors, nurses, porters, police officers and soldiers.
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In the early days, when we knew very little about COVID-19 and the fear was turned up to maximum levels, they put their lives on the line in service to the health and wellbeing of our fellow citizens.
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The Good Book tells us that “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
I know I speak for everyone in this House when I say we owe you a debt of gratitude. You are true patriots and heroes.
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We also have to acknowledge the people of Jamaica, who played such a vital role in the fight. You altered your habits, deferred your plans, changed work schedules; but above all, you cared for each other.
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When the people of Jamaica tuned in to watch the budget presentation last week they were anxious to hear solutions, the plans & programmes to take us out of the unprecedented crisis we are facing.
What they got was pure theatre… Parliament became a Pantomime.
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If the people wanted drama, they would go to Little Theatre or Centre Stage.

The people want real answers to the problems facing them.

The Minister of Finance says we are doing well. That is a fantasy.

Who are the “we” of which he is speaking?
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Not the people in my constituency, not the people in East Rural St Andrew or the people in South East St Elizabeth. #BudgetDebate2022

Only a few well connected are making money and living well. Many Jamaicans are living hand to mouth. They can’t pay the bills, they are feeling the burdens of an economy pressured by two years of COVID 19 and now the Russia/Ukraine Conflict.

That is their reality.

There is no balance in the society. This is a deeply unequal society divided into the haves and the have nots.
The budget presented by the Government will perpetuate, and indeed worsen, that inequality.
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The pandemic has severely impacted the world economy, and Jamaica was not spared.
After suffering a decline in real GDP of over 10% in 2020, we have not yet recovered the lost ground.
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The main economic legacy of the pandemic has been a spike in inflation. This is caused by various factors including increased world demand for goods versus services, supply chain disruptions affecting world trade, & geopolitical tensions affecting world commodity prices

The reality is that Jamaica is now facing a major onslaught from the effects of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia.
Russia is a major oil and gas exporter, and the price of oil has rocketed to over US$100 per barrel.
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JPS has already warned of higher electricity costs.
JPS has called for a national response and is suggesting that the Government suspends the taxes on fuel and the GCT on electricity sales, to give paying customers some relief.
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Motorists, taxi drivers and other transport operators are already seeing massive increases in the cost of gas at the pump. #BudgetDebate2022

Last Thursday our Shadow Spokesperson for Finance, MP @julianjay , in an excellent and revealing presentation, showed that the ex-refinery price of gas has increased by 60% in the twelve months to February 2022. #BudgetDebate2022

He also showed the massive hikes in basic food prices over the last 12 months.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia will make things worse for Jamaicans.
Russia & Ukraine are major producers of grains.
The prices of wheat, corn & other grains are flying through the roof.

Ukraine and Russia are also major suppliers of agricultural fertilizers and chemicals to the world. This means that food production around the world will be seriously affected. #BudgetDebate2022

Sadly, the high inflation that consumers have endured over the past year is going to get worse. #BudgetDebate2022

Jamaicans will face higher prices for basic food items, electricity, water and transportation. This tidal wave of higher prices will flow through to other items as well. #BudgetDebate2022

Mothers won’t be able to feed their children. More children will face hunger and malnutrition. Even those who are working won’t be able to make ends meet. For the working poor, their meagre salaries will not stretch far enough to cover the price increases. BudgetDebate2022

Very dark days are ahead for our people. The country is on the brink of a deep crisis but this budget has very few real solutions.#BudgetDebate2022

It is clear that this budget was put together without a strategic response to protect Jamaicans from the economic fallout of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. #BudgetDebate2022

It reminds me of the budget of March 2020, which did not account for the impact of Covid, and had to be substantially overhauled by a supplementary budget two months later. #BudgetDebate2022

While the budget is based on a fantasy, the Jamaican people live in reality.

They have to face the crisis head on, as they try to feed their families and pay their bills. #BudgetDebate2022 #CushionTheCrisis

At this time, reality demands that the Government “Cushions the Crisis”, and gives our people some ease from the heavy burdens. #CushionTheCrisis

There is nothing in this budget that will give protection to the people who need it most. CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

The Government has not protected the people from what they are facing. This budget has no meaningful provisions to protect them from the onslaught. CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

We demand that more be done to ease the burdens on the Jamaican people. CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

The Minister of Finance is more worried about appeasing the credit rating agencies and the capital markets, than providing relief for the suffering people of Jamaica. #CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

The Jamaican people must be our priority.
Minister, make the people your priority, and #CushiontheCrisis.
We can always recover lost ground in our efforts to lower debt when the crisis is over. #BudgetDebate2022

Last week Tuesday the Minister beat his chest, and colleagues on that side beat their desks, as he announced that there will be no new taxes. #BudgetDebate2022

I say to the people of Jamaica - do not be fooled by the hype. The Government plans to collect $99 Billion more in taxes in this coming year. #CushionTheCrisis

That is an increase of $99 Billion in taxes from the people. Imagine, this is happening in a year when many have not recovered from the Covid recession, and many more are facing hunger and sufferation from the affects of the war in Ukraine! #CushionTheCrisis
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$99 Billion more in taxes! That is unconscionable at a time like this! #CushionTheCrisis

We believe that the Government must rearrange the budget, and find a way to give some of this $99 Billion back to the people. Help the people to survive this world crisis that is overcoming us. #CushionTheCrisis

The Minister says he plans to use $2 Billion to reduce the impact on some transport operators. He is yet to tell us how this will work. It was a promise that was clearly made “on the fly”, with no details. He is also promising a mere $750 million for care packages.

Of the $99 Billion dollars in additional taxes, all he is giving back in this crisis is $2.75 Billion. At a time like this, when sufferation is on the land, and the people are close to the brink. #CushionTheCrisis

That $2.75 Billion is a mere 0.1% of GDP. That is one-tenth of one per cent. It is a drop in the bucket. It is not enough to meet the needs of our people… the impact will be minimal. #CushionTheCrisis

More children will suffer… they will go to bed hungry with just a little sugar and water to wet their lips. #CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

The elderly will suffer, too. Many of them have very limited funds and have already cut back significantly. Many are eating only one meal a day, if they get that. Even the fit and the strong are suffering. #CushionTheCrisis

Electricity and water affect every aspect of life of our people. With those going up, the people are facing lick after lick after lick. #CushionTheCrisis

Cushion the lick, Minister.
Cushion the Crisis, Prime Minister.
#CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

Last week, the Minister of Finance tried a thing with a tune from Anthony Red Rose, but he got the lyrics wrong. Well here it is, right back at you, Minister. Cyaan seh mi neva did a warn you.
#BudgetDebate2022 #CushionTheCrisis

It is you who need the warning, Minister Clarke, not me.
#CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

Cyaan seh mi neva did a warn you, Minister! You control the purse strings! Don’t hold them so tight at a time when the our people are suffering and the society is on the brink.
#CushionTheCrisis

You are not addressing the crisis!
You have no plan to protect the Jamaican people!
Cyaan seh mi neva did a warn you and the Government – continue to behave this way and you will be riding for a fall.
#CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

You must hear the cries of our people ..They are hurting. They are afraid. People are increasingly upset and angry.
#CushionTheCrisis

Rain a fall, but the dutty tough. Pot a cook, but the food nuh nuff.
A hungry man is an angry man.
Act now!
#CushiontheCrisis.

Recast the budget.
Address the cries of the people.
#CushionTheCrisis

We on this side are recommending that the following benefits need to be substantially increased in this fiscal year.
PATH Benefits
Poor relief
The amount spent on social pensions for those who are not receiving NIS or public sector pensions
#CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

Inflation, especially the cost of basic food items, is taking away their ability to survive. These are our most vulnerable people. They need and deserve protection from the Government at this time of raging inflation.
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I realize that some of these absolutely essential measures, to give our people a break, will come at a fiscal cost. The Government ran a fiscal surplus of 0.3% of GDP this year, and is budgeting to do the same in the coming fiscal year. #BudgetDebate2022

The plan is to reduce the public debt as rapidly as possible, to 60% of GDP by March 2028.
It was the PNP administration that began the process to reduce the debt. In fact, our administration did the heavy lifting to get the debt down.
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We are fully committed to achieving the target of 60% of GDP. We are fully committed to fiscal prudence. Our track record proves it.
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The last PNP Administration reduced the public debt from 147% of GDP to 115% of GDP in just four years. We strengthened the Fiscal Responsibility Framework, with laws that make the budget and the fiscal programme of the Government much more transparent.
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Perhaps most importantly, we passed legislation and implemented administrative changes to overhaul the country’s tax collection system. The JLP Government has reaped the fruits of those transformational reforms. #BudgetDebate2022

Tax revenues have increased rapidly since 2016, outstripping inflation and nominal GDP growth and without the need for any net new tax measures.
Dr. Peter Phillips, as Finance Minister, was Gleaner Man of the Year in 2015 for these monumental achievements.
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I am honoured to have worked closely with him to deliver the legislative reforms that have put Jamaica on a sound fiscal path for the future.
But, as the Most Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller often says, a responsible Government must balance the books while balancing people’s lives.

The public debt is now below 100% of GDP, and GDP is recovering from the effects of the pandemic. We believe that Jamaica can afford to slow the pace of debt reduction and use those resources to help our people get through these most difficult times.
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On the other hand, the negative social impact of continued excessive fiscal conservatism will do lasting damage to our society.
I would support additional expenditures of at least 2% of GDP to address these critical needs facing the society.
#CushionTheCrisis #BudgetDebate2022

It is time to focus on helping our people. It is not the time for excessive fiscal conservatism.
The Government is playing with fire, by leaving vulnerable populations unprotected in this vortex of high inflation and the unbearable cost of living.
#CushionTheCrisis

With real GDP growth of 3.5% projected for the coming fiscal year, this expenditure would not worsen the debt to GDP ratio.

On the other hand, it would also begin the process of addressing some of the major social deficits that cause our low national productivity, and our dire problem of violent crime.
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One thing I love about the Jamaican people is their ability to identify a “poppy show”. Many saw the unveiling of the new bank notes for what it really was.. a distraction from the real issues that affect them.
It was another fantasy.
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How do new bank notes help our people, who are trying to survive day by day, living from hand to mouth?
How is it relevant, at a time like this?
It will do nothing to help the people ride out the storm. As one man told me, “it won’t put one more dumpling in the pot”.

Aside from all the silliness of the unveiling of the new bank notes, the approach reflects a deeper issue of arrogant governance.
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The Government chose not to consult with the Opposition on the new design for the notes, even though it involves powerful symbolism affecting some of our great political leaders. Creating new bank notes is not just a family matter. It is much bigger than that.
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No consultation. You just bring it here last Tuesday, with a bag of hype. That is not how to build a better understanding. That is not how you promote togetherness. That is not how we work together. That is disrespect.
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And yes, we know the Prime Minister wants his mentor Mr. Seaga on a bank note. No problem – if you say a $2,000 note is needed, that’s fine! Put Mr. Seaga on the $2,000 note, but leave Michael Manley on the $1,000 note.

You changed it without consulting with us. You changed it without any attempt to reach consensus. That approach will not last the test of time.
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You say you are doing this out of love, Minister. But love must be based on truth, respect and understanding. Your approach in this matter has none of that.
We know the reality, and the people know the reality. The hype and gimmickry won’t fool them.
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They know their history. The reality, that must be faced, is that there is further truth and reconciliation needed to heal our society, when it comes to the Manley/Seaga period.
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In the 1970s, Michael Manley was trying to build a better, more equal, fair and just Jamaica, for all the people. He was especially concerned about the masses who were marginalized and oppressed by a colonial system which the JLP had left untouched after independence.

In this period of the 1970’s, the country got free education. The PNP under Michael Manley gave us the National Housing Trust, and built thousands of houses for low-income families. The Manley Government gave women the right to equal pay and the right to maternity leave.

He gave workers the right to redundancy pay and notice pay. He gave the workers access to an Industrial Disputes Tribunal when their rights are violated. #BudgetDebate2022

He made everyone lawful, nuh bastard nuh deh again, whether their parents were married or not, so they could get their inheritance and “step up inna life” as equal citizens of this country.
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He was an international champion in the fight against the racist Apartheid regime in South Africa, and for a better deal for Third World countries like Jamaica.
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He gave the masses of this country a place in society, so that everyone a smaddy, nuh care where you born and grow.
Many professionals and business people are where they are today because Michael Manley pushed open so many doors in the 1970s.
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From our perspective, in that era the other leader did his best, with the help of outside forces like the CIA, to destabilize Michael Manley’s efforts. Jamaica paid a heavy price, as nearly 1,000 of our people were killed in the resulting political violence. #BudgetDebate2022

The economy was severely damaged by capital flight, hoarding and the hostile propaganda of the conservative media.
All of that was about turning back progress.
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Michael Manley never lost faith in the Jamaican people. And we on this side will always have faith in the Jamaican people, and we will always have their back.

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Stop distorting and revising history, Minister Clarke. I’m sure that your own family were beneficiaries of what Michael Manley did for Jamaica. #BudgetDebate2022

The Fiscal Policy Paper of February 10, 2022 states that the budget is based on a projected average oil price of US$67.50 per barrel. Since that time, the war in Ukraine has pushed the oil price to well over US$100 per barrel.
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Around 40% of the price of gas in Jamaica is made up of various taxes, of which the ad valorem SCT is a major component. #BudgetDebate2022

Our Spokesperson on Finance has called for the hedge tax on fuel to be returned to motorists. The hedge tax was imposed to buy price insurance, to protect the public from high gas prices. #BudgetDebate2022

While this Government continues to collect the hedge tax, it has not been used for that purpose since 2016. Instead, the Government has been pocketing the money.
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I support our Spokesperson’s call and I want to go even further. We are proposing that for the duration of the inflation crisis,

the Government caps the ad valorem SCT on fuel at an oil price of US$67.50 per barrel, and also at the equivalent for the price of LNG, so that prices above that do not result in higher taxes on fuel.
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Consumers need a break on their electricity bills and water bills.
Motorists need a break at the pumps, with the price of gas at historic highs.
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Taxi and bus operators need a break, too. Their costs have eroded the viability of their business. They are now pressuring the Government for a fare increase. #BudgetDebate2022

Higher transportation costs will affect other prices in the economy.
This is the people’s reality, not a fantasy.

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Capping the ad valorem SCT on fuel at an oil price of US$67.50 per barrel will take some of the pressure off consumers, motorists and transport operators.
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It would be a meaningful response to the devastating increases in electricity prices, water rates and transport costs flowing from the massive increase in the price of oil.

I note that Barbados yesterday did something similar, to ease the pressure there.
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While Barbados will have to raise new taxes to pay for it, Jamaica is in a different position. #BudgetDebate2022

Since in Jamaica the Government has not budgeted for a windfall in taxes on oil prices above US$67.50, capping the tax at that price will not adversely affect the budget. But it will #CushiontheCrisis for the people.
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With the explosion of the internet and access to online shopping, consumers can buy personal items from overseas, and have them shipped to Jamaica. These items are not produced in Jamaica.
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This has spawned a new industry of firms that bring these goods into Jamaica for online shoppers. But unless the items are less than US$50 (J$7,500) in value, import taxes are charged on the value of the purchase.
#BudgetDebate2022 #CushionTheCrisis