Charles allays religious fears re planned Saturday tax office opening

Labour and Social Security Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr, has reassured the local Seventh Day Adventist community that the Government's plan to open select tax offices on Saturdays will not infringe upon their religious freedoms.

"We assure the public, including members of the Seventh Day Adventist community, that the Government continues to uphold religious freedom, and will never impose policies that force individuals to act against their faith," Charles Jr declared.

He was responding to concerns raised by the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh Day Adventists regarding the potential impact of the Government's plan on Sabbath-keepers.

The plan to open select tax offices on Saturdays was initially announced by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams, during her maiden Budget Debate presentation on Tuesday. She said the move is aimed at providing greater convenience to taxpayers, and also to boost revenue collection.

In a statement on Thursday, Charles Jr underscored the Government's commitment to upholding religious liberty.

"The Government of Jamaica remains fully committed to upholding religious liberty and ensuring that all Jamaicans can practise their faith without infringement," he said.

"The decision to expand the Tax Administration of Jamaica (TAJ) offices’ operating hours, including additional Saturday openings, is truly driven by the need to provide greater convenience and access to critical services for the public," he added.

The minister highlighted that the TAJ has a clear policy of respecting the religious beliefs of its staff, and the employees are not mandated to work on Saturdays if it contradicts their religious convictions.

"Instead, staff members are given the opportunity to indicate their availability, ensuring that no one is forced to compromise their faith," Charles Jr explained.

Further, he said the initiative is not new, as the Portmore Tax Office in St Catherine is opened every Saturday, and selected offices are operated on the last Saturday of each month.

"So, therefore, this expansion extends that accessibility to more locations to allow citizens greater flexibility to conduct business outside of the traditional weekday hours," Charles Jr stated.