The tax burden
Published:Saturday | August 23, 2025 | 12:10 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
According to estimates 48 cents of every Jamaican tax revenue dollar goes toward paying public sector salaries. Therefore, only 52 cents remains, to deal with all the other critical national issues that is demanded of that remainder and for which the government is responsible, from building and repairing roads to servicing public schools and hospitals to servicing the country’s national debt.
It seems to me that public sector salaries and, in particular, the salaries of members of parliament, cabinet ministers, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Governor General, and the Chief Justice, climbed too high and too fast. Public sector salaries have become too heavy a fiscal burden, on the country’s coffers and, as such, should be reduced by, at least, 20 per cent, beginning with the salaries of politicians, which, are the highest in the region.
Further a 20 per cent cut to the salaries of other public sector workers, who, belong to categories that had received the highest salary increases, following the conclusion of the public sector salaries reclassification programme, should be implemented. Such a bold, decisive and patriotic move would reduce the overall monthly public sector salary burden on the nation’s tax revenues.
PATRICK GALLIMORE