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‘Be careful how you speak about the Probox’ – Finance Minister

Loop News

March 26, 2025 12:21 PM ET

3 mins read

Finance Minister Fayval Williams told the parliamentary Opposition and its supporters to be careful not to criticise the Toyota Probox motor car.

Her caution yesterday (March 25) as she closed the 2025/26 Budget Debate at Gordon House came nearly two weeks after her comments about the Probox on national television opened her up to criticism that she was out-of-touch with the needs of ordinary Jamaicans.

After her opening Budget Debate presentation on March 11, Williams appeared the next day on TVJ’s’All Angles’ where she told the host Dionne Jackson Miller that the money pay-as-you-earn employees would retain as a result of the announced increase in the income tax threshold could go towards the purchase of a Probox.

Specifically, Williams said persons will be able to make a down payment on Toyota Probox motorcar by saving $2,000 per month for three years.

Such savings would amount to $72,000. Jackson Miller asked the minister if she was referring to a 20-year-old car.

Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson used a portion of his Budget presentation on March 13 to describe Williams as being “out-of-touch” before mocking her.

“Mr Speaker, on my way here, from last night, my constituents have been inundating me, from last night until today. They’ve asked me to ask you minister, they want to know where they can get the Probox that cost $2,000 per month, that if you put it aside (for three years) where you can find that Probox,” said Robinson to laughter from his Opposition colleagues.

“Because they say they want that Probox that when you put aside $2,000 per month… you can pay down on that Probox. So they have asked me to ask you because they’re ready to buy that Probox so I want to ask the minister, please tell me where that Probox is,” Robinson said.

“Let me caution the Opposition and their supporters about how they talk about Probox,” Williams said as she revisited the issue.

She pointed out that there are currently 23,423 Probox vehicle owners in Jamaica.

“So, be very careful that you don’t disrespect Probox, which is made by Toyota, the largest car manufacturer in the world. It is a vehicle that has been around for about 20 years and has been a resounding commercial success for Toyota. It is fuel efficient and has a very good after-market. So, be very careful how you speak about Probox,” the minister said.

“It’s not where you begin. It is where you end! It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” she added.