THE Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it does not expect any feasible solution to this weekend's Cabinet retreat.

General Secretary of the party, Dr Horace Chang noted the retreat is the fifth such attempt by the Government to meet in a special setting for the purpose of finding solutions to country's problems but that, on each occasion, Jamaicans have felt no tangible, positive effects from them.

"It seems the Government is retreating from the problems facing the country, and rather than dealing with problem... they appear to retreat to design a common ground for their own interests," Dr Chang said in a release on Thursday.

"I am very doubtful that when the Government returns from this retreat they will have any workable solutions. It is becoming clear that this Administration cannot manage the issues that are currently affecting Jamaica," Dr Chang asserted.

Dr Chang said with the unprecedented increases in the prices of basic goods, the devastating slide in the value of the Jamaican dollar, and the resulting increases in the cost of living, including utilities such as light and water, the Government must "change course" and come up with workable solutions for Jamaica.

"It seems this Government is sitting and waiting on the IMF (International Monetary Fund) deal, while Jamaicans suffer. The prices are rising and the cost of living in general is getting more expensive. The Government has not come to the nation with a plan as to what they will do to protect Jamaicans, and neither have they shown any sincere concern for the most vulnerable, even though they campaigned on making life better for the poor," he remarked.

Chang added that news of an impending reduction in the number of persons on the PATH programme, proved that the Government does not fully grasp the gravity of the situation facing Jamaicans.

The Government announced Wednesday that Cabinet will go into a two-day retreat, beginning Sunday, as it completes preparation of the 2013/14 budget.