As the rain fell Thursday morning, the spirits and voices of opposition factions were not dampened as they continued their protest against the government’s proposed vehicle licensing fees increase.
Members of Parliament, Senators and opposition supporters came out as Parliament was convened to demonstrate against the proposed increase in the fees, which they describe as an unjustified tax burden on citizens.
Leader of the Opposition Hon Jamale Pringle said his team will continue to protest against the measure, emphasizing the need for government accountability before imposing any fee increases.
“Whether $100 or 40 percent increase, it is still our position that this government should not impose any increase on the people without giving proper accountability,” Pringle said.
He also questioned the government’s use of previously collected vehicle licence fees, citing ongoing road projects that have remained incomplete for years.
“When you look at the Sydney Walling Highway, they have been doing that road for a few years now. When you look at the Valley Road, they have been doing that road for a few years now. We haven’t gotten an account as to how much those roads would have cost us,” he said.
According to the Opposition Leader, the Transport Board has been retaining vehicle licence fees that should have been paid to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue based on the Vehicle and Road Traffic Act.
He claimed that there has been an absence of audited accounts from the Transport Board for the past 10-15 years.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for St Mary’s South, Hon Kelvin Simon, described the proposed increase as “unconscionable” and “wicked”, pointing to the government’s previous claims of economic success.
“Against the backdrop of many boastings by the same administration of how well the economy is doing and that we are outperforming basically everybody in our region, including Latin America … we should not have to be burdening the people with extra money or extra taxes for road,” Simon said.
Senator Pearl Quinn-Williams said the government was being “deceptive” for not mentioning fee increases during its Budget presentations. “They said no new taxes, but they never said that there would be no increase in tax.”
She also questioned the administration’s handling of “millions of dollars that they have collected in road taxes over the last 10 years”.
The government has defended the increase as necessary to fund road repairs across the island, but opposition members have argued that proper accounting and a comprehensive infrastructure plan should come before any new fees are imposed on citizens.
Quinn-Williams said opposition members will continue to demand transparency and accountability from the government, regarding public finances and infrastructural development plans.
