Exactly one week after attempts of street protest did not gain traction, the lobby, Campaign For Social and Economic Justice, also failed in its attempt to get support for its call for the Government to rethink its $18-billion tax package.

But the organisers of the protest were not fazed by the lack of mass public support.

"We might not have the numbers here but we know that what we represent, the vast majority of the people support it. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and we have taken one step here today," Lloyd D'Aguilar, organiser of Campaign For Social and Economic Justice, told The Gleaner.

He said a statement yesterday from the Police High Command also affected the turnout.

"We did not expect thousands of people and certainly the police commissioner and the political directorate tried to put a damper on this by putting forward the information that we could not have a march. That might have intimidated some people from coming out," D'Aguilar said.

Denied permission

The police had denied the group permission to march from National Heroes Park to Gordon House, forcing D'Aguilar and his colleagues to scale down the extent of their protest.

With several placards placed on the fence of Heroes Park and a public address system at the ready, it was clear that the group expected more than the handful of protesters.

But with passing motorists honking their horns and flashing their headlights, D'Aguilar said it was clear that many persons agreed with the group's call for a rethink of the tax package.

"We will continue our process to mobilise, to organise and to educate the people about the nature of this Budget, which is oppressive, unconscionable and scandalous because it does not involve any increased taxation of the rich.

"We also believe that the debt is odious, the debt is illegitimate and there needs to be a forensic audit of the debt," D'Aguilar added.

He said more protests would take place as persons come to understand the implications of the tax package.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com