People's National Party Member of Parliament Fitz Jackson is urging the Government to vote in favour of his Bill to amend the Banking Services Act, which would address the issue of high service fees charged by commercial banks.

 

The bill to amend the Banking Services Act was re-tabled in Parliament in October last year after it was rejected in 2018.

 

The St. Catherine South MP criticised the comments from Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke cautioning the banking sector against increasing service fees amid public outcry over the decision.

 

Mr. Jackson argued that their concern is not genuine as they have failed to act. 

 

He believes if the government is truly concerned, it should put the bill to a vote when the House of Representatives meets again on Tuesday.

 

"Pass the bill and sign it into law at the soonest possible time, and much of what we're talking about that is unreasonable would have been resolved by law," he suggested. "The people of this country elected all of us to protect them, not to go beg the banks to be sympathetic". 

 

The island's commercial banks have recently announced an increase in various fees.