An unusually animated Peter Bunting, general secretary of the People's National Party (PNP), says the Opposition will be embarking on a strategic plan not only to protest the proposed $21-billion tax package but to unseat the Government.

Bunting said Jamaicans have not yet come to terms with how the tax plan would impact their lives.

"The PNP must now, of necessity, respond to an obvious call for political action," Bunting said. He argued that if the PNP did not lead the protests, other persons would.

Bunting was speaking at a special PNP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of the West Indies yesterday.

Starting today, the PNP said it would be starting a mass education programme as well as stakeholder meetings. He instructed that all constituencies must have emergency meetings by year end and deliver the message that "enough is enough".

Strong leadership

He, however, cautioned that the party must provide responsible and strong leadership.

"Nothing must be done at any of these protests that should jeopardise the fragile tourism industry and allow the Government to blame us," Bunting said.

"We are not in this first phase doing any demonstrations that would impede the flow of traffic or prevent people from going about their business. We want no blocking of roads whatsoever," Bunting said.

"If we are not careful, holding any type of protest across the country, there are those criminal elements who can seize upon the opportunity to hold people hostage and extort money from them, to loot their stores, and if we have this going on a broad basis, there is no way that the police can control it," Bunting said.

He also told party supporters that the party would hold a "major event" on New Year's Eve.

"Those of you who are feeling militant must be prepared to mobilise," Bunting added.

Meanwhile, South Manchester Member of Parliament Michael Peart was the lone dissenting voice yesterday. He advised the party to take to the streets as a last resort, only if further dialogue with the Government did not lead to a tax rollback.

However, members of the party were not in agreement.

"Time for talking done, action time now," some shouted.

Carol Jackson called for the opposition members of parliament to send a signal to the Government by refusing to sit in Gordon House with them.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com