Business
Jamaica: Budget focuses on job creation, economic growth – no new taxes
He further reiterated that the Integrated Resort Developments with Casino is expected to create at least five jobs per room.
“Our law provides for a maximum of three such resorts with 2000 new rooms each. This will, upon completion, translate into at least 30,000.00 new permanent jobs. The construction phase of these Approved Integrated Resorts will lead to thousands of jobs,” he said.
Phillips also made reference to concerns raised by the private sector that some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states may not be adhering to CARICOM’s rules of origin requirements that allow goods to be traded duty free throughout the region.
“This is a concern which we share because we are determined that every opportunity should be provided to Jamaica’s producers – small, medium and large to operate on a level playing field, where trade and investment are concerned.
“To the extent that breaches are confirmed we stand ready to collaborate with the Jamaican private sector. Because let there be no doubt, growth of Jamaica’s economy is our priority” he said.
In an immediate reaction to the budget, the opposition Jamaica Labor Party’s (JLP) spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw, accused the government of being deceptive in saying that there are no new taxes.
“It is deception, because over J$12 billion (US$120 million) of the tax revenues this year were included in the tax package which was tabled in February but did not become effective until April 1.”
