KINGSTON, Jamaica — The second round of national debates lit up Tuesday night as candidates from the two major political parties clashed over how Jamaica’s economy should be managed. The flashpoint: the People’s National Party’s (PNP) promise to raise the personal income tax threshold to $3.5 million.
Opposition finance spokesman Julian Robinson argued that the measure would give Jamaicans more breathing room, stressing that it could be introduced by April 2026 without the burden of new taxes. He projected that economic growth alone could provide $140 billion in additional revenue over three years, with further space created by reshuffling budget priorities.
The Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Fayval Williams dismissed the claim outright, insisting the numbers don’t add up. According to her, any such policy would force the government to impose fresh taxes on citizens. “It’s impossible to deliver without shifting the cost back onto the people,” Williams declared.
Robinson countered that the adjustment would cost $55 billion, but promised a phased rollout to protect fiscal discipline.
Tuesday’s debate assembled Robinson, Peter Bunting, and Kisha Anderson for the PNP, while the JLP was represented by Williams, Dr. Christopher Tufton, and Dr. Dana Morris-Dixon. The evening was moderated by George Davis of Nationwide News Network, with questions posed by journalists Al Edwards and Andrea Chisholm, and social media queries filtered by CVM’s Amoy Harriott.
The debate series, staged by the Jamaica Debates Commission, opened last weekend with a focus on social issues. All eyes now turn to Thursday’s finale, where Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding will face off directly — a showdown expected to shape the narrative heading into election day.
