KINGSTON, Jamaica — The battle over Jamaica’s economic future took center stage Tuesday night, as fiery exchanges erupted between government and opposition representatives during the election’s highly anticipated economic debate.
Finance and Public Service Minister Fayval Williams came out swinging, dismissing the People’s National Party’s (PNP) pledge to raise the income tax threshold to $3.5 million as “an impossible promise dressed up as policy.” Williams argued the proposal was unrealistic and would inevitably lead to higher taxes elsewhere, branding it a “reckless gamble with Jamaica’s finances.”
Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson, defended his party’s stance, maintaining that the adjustment is both achievable and sustainable. He claimed the PNP’s plan would be financed by projected revenue growth of $140 billion over three years, coupled with reprioritization within the national budget.
“This is about giving Jamaicans breathing room,” Robinson said. “We’re not asking for new taxes. We’re making space within the economy for fairness and relief, starting April 2026.”
Williams, unimpressed, countered sharply: “What you’re proposing is nothing short of a fiscal illusion. You cannot create a $3.5 million threshold without placing the burden back on the people you claim to help.”
The cost of the plan was pegged by Robinson at $55 billion, though he stressed that the PNP would stagger implementation to safeguard fiscal stability.
The debate featured a six-member panel: Robinson, Peter Bunting, and Kisha Anderson for the PNP; Williams, Dr Christopher Tufton, and Dr Dana Morris-Dixon for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Moderated by George Davis of Nationwide News Network, the debate also incorporated questions from journalists and the public, ensuring both scrutiny and pressure remained high throughout.
This round followed Saturday’s social issues debate and precedes Thursday’s highly anticipated showdown between Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding — a clash expected to draw record attention as Jamaicans prepare to head to the polls.
