KINGSTON, Jamaica (CNN) -- Jamaica's prime minister Tuesday cut in
                  half a gasoline tax that ignited deadly rioting, and promised to come up with
                  other ways to make up the $37 million budget shortfall the rollback would
                  cause.

                  A 31 percent hike in gasoline prices April 16 -- which increased the price at
                  the pump from $1.55 to $2.01 per gallon -- prompted three days of rioting
                  that killed nine, damaged millions of dollars' worth of property and rocked
                  Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's government. More than 160 were arrested.

                  Last week's unrest brought the Jamaican economy to a standstill. Gun battles
                  erupted between police and protesters as flaming barricades shut down
                  traffic in Kingston and other towns. The disturbances led to the cancellation
                  of flights and cruises to the Caribbean island, which relies heavily on tourism.
                  Foreign embassies have since lifted travel warnings.

                  Patterson quelled the protests by appointing a committee to find other ways
                  to increase revenues. He said Tuesday he would accept the committee's key
                  recommendation: reducing the new gas tax by 50 percent.

                  "The events of last week served to remind us any solution we devise as a
                  government cannot succeed without the understanding and the involvement
                  of the people," Patterson told Parliament. "Some lessons are hard for all of
                  us."

                  Government says new plan won't hurt poor

                  He promised to present concrete plans later to make up the $37 million
                  shortfall, adding that the new plans would "not impact adversely on the
                  poor."

                  Those plans, Finance Minister Omar Davies said, include a 15 percent tax
                  on interest from stocks, bonds and other investments. The measure is
                  expected to earn $48.6 million.

                  To soften the blow to investors, the government will cut the tax on savings
                  account interest from 25 percent to 15 percent -- a loss of $22 million --
                  and reduce the maturity of certain savings bonds from seven years to five
                  years.

                  Patterson said his government would work to reduce interest rates in hopes
                  of stimulating economic growth.

                  Police beefed up patrols before Patterson's speech, and officials of the ruling
                  People's National Party met with community leaders to appeal for calm.

                  "Our leadership has been out in the communities doing what they are
                  supposed to do -- mobilizing, organizing and preventing further roadblocks,"
                  said party leader Paul Burke.

                  Earlier, Jamaicans had threatened more protests if the tax wasn't reduced
                  significantly.

                  Kingston's streets were calm after Patterson's announcement, and residents
                  said they hoped it would stave off further unrest.

                  "The new measures don't sound bad, and they will keep (people) from
                  burning down the place," said Donna Stewart, a Kingston insurance
                  company clerk.

                  Policies tamed inflation but slowed growth

                  The new taxes and fees would have raised $110 million to help fund a
                  bailout of failed banks, insurance companies and pension plans. The
                  government blames the problems on its decision to respond to outside
                  pressures to ease state controls in the economy in the 1990s.

                  Since taking office in 1992, Patterson has followed the prescriptions of
                  international lending agencies, eliminating most price controls, privatizing
                  government enterprises and maintaining tight monetary and fiscal policies.

                  That agenda has helped slow inflation and stabilize the exchange rate.
                  However, the policies also resulted in a sharp slowdown in economic
                  growth. By 1996, the country was experiencing negative growth, while
                  inflation and joblessness remained above 15 percent.

                  Adding fuel to the fire, Jamaicans must cope with a high cost of living. The
                  government admits that a single balanced meal for a typical family of five
                  costs $43 -- just about double the weekly minimum wage and equal to a few
                  days' salary.

                           The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.