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how long do you think it will be before the riots begin? 
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
MONTEGO BAY, St James - People's National Party (PNP) president, Portia Simpson Miller yesterday urged persons wanting to protest against the new gas tax increase and GCT to wear dark clothing or honk their horns tomorrow, apparently instead of street protests.
PNP president Portia Simpson Miller (2nd left, foreground) holding hands with party supporters at the party's NEC meeting in Montego Bay yesterday. (Photo: Horace Hines)
"I want to ask that all Jamaicans who are dissatisfied with the gas tax, GCT on other food items, on Tuesday to wear dark colours. something dark, even a piece of black ribbon, to protest," Simpson Miller said in her address at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PNP in this resort city.
The Opposition leader added: "I ask all Jamaican people who feel the pinch to honk your horns on Tuesday, to flash your light on Tuesday because by then we will get the full list of the GCT items."
Cabinet will today announce the complete list of new items that will attract GCT in its bid to raise money to close a yawning gap in the 2009/2010 budget.
Simpson Miller also disclosed that disgruntled persons would be notified of a vigil which the party will later organise. She did not disclose a date but revealed that the "Progressive Agenda Team would be hosting town hall meetings in different locations across the country to hold discussions with the Jamaican people and explain to them the impact the tax increases would have on their lives".
The PNP leader appeared to scoff at suggestions that the party was planning islandwide street protests against the $8.7 jump in the Special Consumption tax on petrol announced by Finance Minister Audley Shaw last Thursday.
High-level sources in the Government said the police had received credible information that street demonstrations were being planned for today.
But, sounding militant, Simpson Miller taunted the JLP for orchestrating national demonstrations against the PNP administration when it hiked fuel tax in 1999. Six persons were said to have died during the riots which also had a devastating effect on the economy.
She poured scorn on last week's placing of the island on national security alert by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, saying it was a show of his apprehension over the JLP getting "a taste of their own medicine".
"This Government has the nerve to wonder out aloud whether or not we are planning a national protest. But Comrades, it is not us they need to worry about. We do not have to lift a finger to tell Jamaican people how to protest or if to protest or when to protest.
Jamaica already knows and the people who taught the people how to protest is right now in power.
"Games is a funny thing. But all I can say this evening from this platform (is) do not judge the People's National Party like your character. When you say that you are picking up intelligence well your intelligence is not so intelligent," said the PNP leader.
And in a final swing at Shaw, she likened the doubling of the threshold for PAYE workers to "three-card trickery".
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
A group of People’s National Party (PNP) supporters have gathered at the Hagley Park Plaza along Hagley Park Road and are planning to march to Jamaica House to deliver a letter to Prime Minister, Bruce Golding.
The protest action is to show their displeasure with the government's recently announced tax package. Among the changes the youth group wants and has outlined in the letter is for a roll back of the gas tax and for the government not to charge GCT on previously zero-rated items.
Damion Crawford, president of the PNPYO and Raymond Pryce, chairman of the PNP's young professional arm, The Patriots, are among the group gathered at the plaza. The police are keeping a close eye on the group.
“The PNPYO is rubbishing the new tax package that has been presented by the Minister of Finance Mr. Audley Shaw in Parliament yesterday. The members of the PNP Youth Organization are dissatisfied that the Jamaica Labour Party government believes that as a people we are sufficiently under educated so as to facilitate their predisposition to trickery and showmanship,” the group said in a release issued last Friday.
The PNPYO also said in the release that it would be demanding the appropriate responses to the proposals and concerns outlined in the letter.
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
No Gas
Motorists wait patiently, at this Petcom station on Slipe Road in the Corporate Area, to purchase petrol before an $8.75-per-litre tax on fuel is implemented today. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
Despite an apparent rush on some gas stations in the Corporate Area yesterday, Trevor Barnes, president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, said he was surprised there was not a general crowding of facilities ahead of today's implementation of an $8.75-fuel tax.
A long line of vehicles stretched up the street at the Petcom station on Slipe Road, which is usually closed on a Sunday, as motorists scrambled to fill their tanks at $54.02 for E10 fuel or $59.20 for 90-octane. There were also lengthy lines at the Total gas station in Cross Roads and Spanish Town Road.
However, representatives at several other stations contacted by The Gleaner said they had experienced no rush on their pumps.
While opening the 2009-2010 Budget Debate in Parliament last week, Audley Shaw, minister of finance and the public service, announced that the Government would be implementing the $8.75-per-litre fuel tax in hopes of reaping $13 billion of $18 billion in revenues from new taxes. Other new taxes, including GCT on some items that were previously exempt, also take effect today.
No major difference
Motorist Shara Johnson did not rush to buy gas yesterday. According to her, the increase in the price of the commodity would not make a major difference for her.
"Gas has moved down from $80 to $50-odd, so the tax that will go on will still not bring it up so high to where it was before, so we will survive," she said.
Diana Harris also did not see the big deal in rushing to the gas station to fill her tank on the weekend.
"The gas will finish at some point and then I will still have to buy gas, so I cannot be bothered," she said. She added that if she had gone to purchase petrol, that would have been her only reason for leaving her home on the weekend.
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Birthday_Skelly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how long do you think it will be before the riots begin?
</div></div> is that the only response you think Jamaicans are capable of?When its hot in the jungle of peace I go swimming in the ocean of love.....Comment
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Birthday_Skelly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
"Gas has moved down from $80 to $50-odd, so the tax that will go on will still not bring it up so high to where it was before, so we will survive," she said.
</div></div> seet dehWhen its hot in the jungle of peace I go swimming in the ocean of love.....Comment
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
I don't understand why they not taxing Likka and Cigs? everywhere else is doing the "sin tax"
They should legalize and Tax weed, that would fill the hole in the bucket quick quickComment
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Birthday_Skelly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how long do you think it will be before the riots begin?
</div></div> is that the only response you think Jamaicans are capable of? </div></div>
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
<span style="font-style: italic">Other new taxes, including GCT on some items that were previously exempt, also take effect today.</span>
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Birthday_Skelly</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Birthday_Skelly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how long do you think it will be before the riots begin?
</div></div> is that the only response you think Jamaicans are capable of? </div></div>
</div></div>
what about the ones before that?When its hot in the jungle of peace I go swimming in the ocean of love.....Comment
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Birthday_Skelly</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Originally posted by Birthday_Skellyhow long do you think it will be before the riots begin?
</div></div> is that the only response you think Jamaicans are capable of? </div></div>
</div></div>
what about the ones before that?
well those too but the last one I was front and center in the midst of all the goings on
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
which were the ones beofre that?When its hot in the jungle of peace I go swimming in the ocean of love.....Comment
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
hmm dem have one in the 80s ...the exact year and exactly what cause it me caan memba, so doan bodda ask me.
i remember them lock down the school and i had to walk to a friend's house...and then mi modda did walk come get us later.
dem did block off the roads so no car or bus couldnt run.
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Diabolical_Tanya</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't understand why they not taxing Likka and Cigs? everywhere else is doing the "sin tax"
They should legalize and Tax weed, that would fill the hole in the bucket quick quick </div></div>
queen liz would never go for it
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Re: With the new tax increases in JA...
Yes I remember the ones in the 80's I think it was in 84. I had to walk from Andrews to near constant spring group of us walked together as far as we could get and not be alone. Nuff cyar did a bun in the middle of roads an ting. an trying to get to cherry Gardens was a nightmare mi seh wi walk till mi foot dem did waan drap off. And because of the road blocks an riots wi did haffie tek some whole heap a detours.
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