PNP scoffs at using TEF for $1.5m income tax plan
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Former minister of tourism Wykeham McNeill has come out against suggestions that money from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) be used to fund Government’s $1.5 million income tax plan.
The suggestion was made by tourism mogul and chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, and published in the Jamaica Observer on Sunday, April 10.
But in a statement from the People’s National Party (PNP) Tuesday evening, McNeill hit out at the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) saying that “in the heat of their election campaign, made untenable promises to the people. Now the rubber has hit the road it is clear what they put forward as a ‘plan’ was not viable”.
He argued that Finance Minister Audley Shaw, instead of consulting with Cabinet regarding the proposal, should speak to stakeholders in the industry.
“On a principle of good governance it is more important that the minister seeks wide consensus of the players in the sector given the commitment given to the sector by the government of Jamaica when the fund was being established. This includes hoteliers, large and small, villa and apartment owners, transport operators and attractions, who most benefit from the collective expenditure of these funds,” McNeill said.
“The TEF was established by Act of Parliament to provide resources for marketing the destination and to invest in improvements in our tourism product to ensure that we keep pace with trends in this most competitive industry,” he added.
“To divert these funds is to jeopardise the continuation of product improvements that are vital to the long-term sustainability of the sector”.