CONGRATULATIONS continue to pour in yesterday for Bruce Golding and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on their victory in Monday’s general elections.

The latest well-wishers included the Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA), the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) – all of whom urged the party to move hastily to address the challenges facing the nation.

In a release yesterday, the PSOJ said it anticipate that the new Government would immediately move to create the appropriate environment for business and the achievement of a lawful and just society.

“We encourage a renewed look at the Partnership for Progress social agreement, which is designed to seek consensus on issues of national importance and to implement tangible measures to move the economy forward.

The PSOJ said it was their hope that the JLP, as new leaders, would bring a fresh outlook and new vigour to addressing the critical issues which face the nation.

In congratulating Golding and the JLP, PSOJ President, Christopher Zacca, reiterated the commitment of the PSOJ to partner with all stakeholders for the development of the country.

“This is a critical time in the history of our country and a time for all Jamaicans to work together to address the immense challenges facing our nation,” he said.

The PSOJ also used the opportunity to urge the new administration to ensure that Jamaica’s priorities will be effectively managed.

The organisation also commended the Electoral Office of Jamaica and the Electoral Commission, members of the security forces and the Election Day workers who ensured the voting process was “orderly and well managed”.

In the meantime, the JEF made an early call for accountability among members of parliament and those who will be given ministerial responsibilities.

“The Jamaica Employers’ Federation certainly trusts that the newly formed government will not have in its space any semblance of mediocrity,” the federation said in a release yesterday.

The federation said it remained “committed to working with the government of Jamaica to continue to create an enabling business environment for all enterprises”.

The “enabling business environment”, it said, should be defined by:

. A favourable taxation system;

. An environment that accommodated the efforts of thriving entrepreneurs through the provision of adequate and easily accessible venture capital;

. The amendment of outdated legislation facilitating the implementation of adaptable work arrangement options which will increase economic profitability; and

. A government that supports productivity astride benchmarking.

According to the JEF, the latter refers to the “provision of incentives that will encourage section to undertake training, internships and apprenticeships.

The federation also urged the soon-to-be government to develop social policies that would result in an employable workforce, inner-city transformation, support for innovation and creativity and security and justice reform.

The JBA, on the other hand, said it recognised that the closeness of the results could pose some challenges, but said this could provide the basis for greater collaboration and unity if the elected representatives put Jamaica first.

“As the new government is aware, there are significant challenges facing the nation which require immediate attention,” the organisation said yesterday. “The JBA, as an organisation, and its member institutions stand ready and available to assist in the resolution of these issues.”

The association also congratulated the Portia Simpson Miller-led People’s National Party, for their performance in the election and said it looked “forward to a vibrant and constructive Opposition going forward”.