Ja: They're just not calling it a tax increase

MINISTER of Finance and Planning, Dr Omar Davies, indicated yesterday that, despite government's intention not to increase taxation in the 2004/2005 budget, there could be significant hikes in user fees paid for some government services.

"The whole society has to accept that there is a cost for providing these services and so every ministry and department will have to examine what they are providing, the quality of the provision of the service and what is an acceptable charge for it, Davies told reporters at his post-budget press conference at his ministry in Kingston.

He did not say which user fees would be increased, but said the areas of local government and health were the ones which were most likely to be affected.

The government, he said, did not intend to cut the level of health care for the public and some "unrealistic" charges would have to be increased to help maintain the services.

A rose by any other name, and all that.