Golding Moves to Clarify Campbell Proposal to Tax Imported Food

The opposition People’s National Party, PNP, have issued a statement that attempts to clarify and add context to Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture, Dr. Dayton Campbell, reported suggestion to tax all imported food.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding says the PNP does not see a need for new taxes at this time. His remarks were made at a PNP workers’ meeting in Manchester.

In the statement, Golding sought to clarify that what Dr Campbell is suggesting is an innovative approach which would earmark existing taxes that are collected on imported food items.

He says those taxes would then be used to create a fund that would support import substitution and export-led production of critical agricultural items.

He mentioned the growing import bill and criticised the Holness administration for issuing foreign produce import licences liberally and without transparency.

Mark Golding says the PNP is committed to practical solutions that empower Jamaicans, promote local production, and reduce the country’s reliance on imports without imposing additional burdens on the Jamaican people.