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PNP leader calls on party to rescue J'ca from 'reckless government'
BY ERICA VIRTUE Observer Writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, September 21, 2009
A rejuvenated People's National Party (PNP) yesterday emerged from its 71st annual conference, declaring that the time had come for the PNP to rescue Jamaica from the "recklessness of the Bruce Golding administration".
PNP President Portia Simpson Miller, in her address to the public session of the annual conference at the National Arena, slapped the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government for what she termed chaos and confusion in government, and blamed some of the country's woes on the reckless pre-election promises that the administration could not now deliver.
People's National Party (PNP) president, Portia Simpson Miller is flanked by former PNP president and prime minister, P J Patterson (right) and former vice president Dr Peter Phillips, in a show of party unity at yesterday's public session of the party's 71st annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston.
"We warned them that this is not how government works. We warned that it would wreck the country," Simpson Miller told the cheering orange-clad throng. "They said everything was possible, all you needed was a good manager, a good driva! Well, after two years, it is now clear that the driva is clueless. It look like the driva buy him licence," said Opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller, in reference to Golding's 2007 election description of himself.
She said the "driva" had failed to deliver on promises to "to double nurses' and police salaries, to offer free education and health care; to divest Air Jamaica and sugar companies within one year; to tame crime within six months; to re-introduce the railway and roll back the toll".
There was clear ignorance and incompetence in the handling of the current engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), she charged, adding that the country's reputation was at stake on the issue.
"In my budget speech in April, I asked specifically, is the Government of Jamaica about to re-enter a borrowing relationship with the IMF? The Prime Minister said in response that the IMF was "neither necessary nor appropriate".
PNP supporters, joined by Central Kingston MP Ronnie Thwaites (in glasses), having a good time during yesterday's public session of the PNP's 71st annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston. (Photos: Bryan Cummings)
Simpson Miller said: "We in the PNP have long recognised that the crisis in the international economy has contributed to our current domestic challenges. It is the representatives of this administration who have taken so long to recognise the hardships that are flowing from the international environment. Comrades, I ask, can we trust this government? So where are we now? Chaos and confusion are on the land. Talk to any technocrat or minister."
Simpson Miller said it was not even clear how Jamaica had arrived where it was now, and she blasted Prime Minister Bruce Golding as all "chat".
"The Prime Minister can chat eloquently on every topic under the sun, but when it comes to taking decisive action, ahead of a crisis - he can't take a decision. He has failed every time. And when the crisis hits, he trots out the excuses, acts erratically; resorts to tracing and treating people with contempt.
"Simply put, comrades, they cannot manage. This is why we are where we are. We warned them and they didn't listen." she said.
Returning to the issue of the IMF with which the government is seeking a Standby Arrangement, Simpson Miller said that since July, the discussions with the IMF had been a series of bungling and missteps.
"It is now an open secret that the IMF is getting increasingly impatient with the incompetent manner that the discussions are being handled by the JLP Government. The IMF is now so fed up that they cancelled a scheduled visit to the island because they felt that this Government was not ready to adequately deal with important issues. The Government then offered to send a team up to Washington last week, but the IMF said 'Don't bother to come unless you can answer the critical questions'."
She challenged the Government to provide answers to those "critical questions", and further asked why there was no announcement by the Government of this development.
The PNP would handle the matter differently, she said.
"We would have ensured that the best technocrats are part of our team, instead of showing contempt for the professionals in the public service. A PNP administration would return to genuine dialogue with our social partners, rather than using bullying tactics in an attempt to intimidate. We would have consulted, not confronted." she told supporters.
"A PNP administration would advance a credible budget, hold full and frank consultations with stakeholders, and seek to develop and sign a long-term MOU with the trade union.
"We would ensure that burdens are shared. Our proposal of a special 'cess' on the high interest payments on GOJ bonds would not only have provided additional revenues but would demonstrate that there is equity in burden sharing."
She told Golding to cut the size of his executive and keep his campaign promise to have a lean cabinet. As she closed her presentation, she placed the hope and future for Jamaica and Jamaicans on the party's emerging platform - the progressive agenda.
"It is the embodiment of the renewal process, and builds on the principles of the past, the appraisal of the present and the shared vision of the future. It seeks to forge a social partnership between the party and people to achieve true economic independence for all our citizens with quality outcomes," she said.
"Our agenda will craft policies intended to remove all barriers to self-actualisation. We want everyone to be the best they can be - both are important and neither will be left behind. It is not just about providing the opportunity... it is also about providing the support so people can achieve. The only obstacle to progress must be your individual capacity for sacrifice and hard work. Let this be the agenda that renews the hope... and secures the future."
BY ERICA VIRTUE Observer Writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, September 21, 2009
A rejuvenated People's National Party (PNP) yesterday emerged from its 71st annual conference, declaring that the time had come for the PNP to rescue Jamaica from the "recklessness of the Bruce Golding administration".
PNP President Portia Simpson Miller, in her address to the public session of the annual conference at the National Arena, slapped the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government for what she termed chaos and confusion in government, and blamed some of the country's woes on the reckless pre-election promises that the administration could not now deliver.
People's National Party (PNP) president, Portia Simpson Miller is flanked by former PNP president and prime minister, P J Patterson (right) and former vice president Dr Peter Phillips, in a show of party unity at yesterday's public session of the party's 71st annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston. "We warned them that this is not how government works. We warned that it would wreck the country," Simpson Miller told the cheering orange-clad throng. "They said everything was possible, all you needed was a good manager, a good driva! Well, after two years, it is now clear that the driva is clueless. It look like the driva buy him licence," said Opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller, in reference to Golding's 2007 election description of himself.
She said the "driva" had failed to deliver on promises to "to double nurses' and police salaries, to offer free education and health care; to divest Air Jamaica and sugar companies within one year; to tame crime within six months; to re-introduce the railway and roll back the toll".
There was clear ignorance and incompetence in the handling of the current engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), she charged, adding that the country's reputation was at stake on the issue.
"In my budget speech in April, I asked specifically, is the Government of Jamaica about to re-enter a borrowing relationship with the IMF? The Prime Minister said in response that the IMF was "neither necessary nor appropriate".
PNP supporters, joined by Central Kingston MP Ronnie Thwaites (in glasses), having a good time during yesterday's public session of the PNP's 71st annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston. (Photos: Bryan Cummings)Simpson Miller said: "We in the PNP have long recognised that the crisis in the international economy has contributed to our current domestic challenges. It is the representatives of this administration who have taken so long to recognise the hardships that are flowing from the international environment. Comrades, I ask, can we trust this government? So where are we now? Chaos and confusion are on the land. Talk to any technocrat or minister."
Simpson Miller said it was not even clear how Jamaica had arrived where it was now, and she blasted Prime Minister Bruce Golding as all "chat".
"The Prime Minister can chat eloquently on every topic under the sun, but when it comes to taking decisive action, ahead of a crisis - he can't take a decision. He has failed every time. And when the crisis hits, he trots out the excuses, acts erratically; resorts to tracing and treating people with contempt.
"Simply put, comrades, they cannot manage. This is why we are where we are. We warned them and they didn't listen." she said.
Returning to the issue of the IMF with which the government is seeking a Standby Arrangement, Simpson Miller said that since July, the discussions with the IMF had been a series of bungling and missteps.
"It is now an open secret that the IMF is getting increasingly impatient with the incompetent manner that the discussions are being handled by the JLP Government. The IMF is now so fed up that they cancelled a scheduled visit to the island because they felt that this Government was not ready to adequately deal with important issues. The Government then offered to send a team up to Washington last week, but the IMF said 'Don't bother to come unless you can answer the critical questions'."
She challenged the Government to provide answers to those "critical questions", and further asked why there was no announcement by the Government of this development.
The PNP would handle the matter differently, she said.
"We would have ensured that the best technocrats are part of our team, instead of showing contempt for the professionals in the public service. A PNP administration would return to genuine dialogue with our social partners, rather than using bullying tactics in an attempt to intimidate. We would have consulted, not confronted." she told supporters.
"A PNP administration would advance a credible budget, hold full and frank consultations with stakeholders, and seek to develop and sign a long-term MOU with the trade union.
"We would ensure that burdens are shared. Our proposal of a special 'cess' on the high interest payments on GOJ bonds would not only have provided additional revenues but would demonstrate that there is equity in burden sharing."
She told Golding to cut the size of his executive and keep his campaign promise to have a lean cabinet. As she closed her presentation, she placed the hope and future for Jamaica and Jamaicans on the party's emerging platform - the progressive agenda.
"It is the embodiment of the renewal process, and builds on the principles of the past, the appraisal of the present and the shared vision of the future. It seeks to forge a social partnership between the party and people to achieve true economic independence for all our citizens with quality outcomes," she said.
"Our agenda will craft policies intended to remove all barriers to self-actualisation. We want everyone to be the best they can be - both are important and neither will be left behind. It is not just about providing the opportunity... it is also about providing the support so people can achieve. The only obstacle to progress must be your individual capacity for sacrifice and hard work. Let this be the agenda that renews the hope... and secures the future."
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