PRIME Minister Bruce Golding has launched a series of consultations with key groups in his ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to get their views on mounting calls for his resignation.

#blamebruce has become, locally at least, a ‘trending topic’ on social networking website Twitter.

Information Minister Daryl Vaz, fuming over media reports that Golding had signalled he would be stepping down, described the claims as “irresponsible”, saying that it could damage Jamaica’s image overseas.

“How could anyone expect that the prime minister would hear calls for his resignation one day and step down the next?” Vaz asked. “To publish that the PM is resigning without any truth to that is very irresponsible,” he told the Observer.

Golding has been facing increased criticism since Tuesday when he confessed that he, in his capacity as JLP leader, had sanctioned a US$50,000 deal with a US-based law firm to lobby the US Government in the controversial Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke extradition matter.

Vaz said Golding started his meetings with key party officers, to be followed by his parliamentary group, the JLP’s central executive, his West Kingston constituency executive and finally the Cabinet.

Calls for Golding’s resignation have come from various sectors of the society, including the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) and its affiliates, human rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) and his former party, the National Democratic Movement (NDM).

Yesterday a group of private sector and union bodies charged with finding solutions for Jamaica’s economic and social ills suspended its meetings indefinitely, pending clarification on Golding’s confession.

The current dispute had its genesis last year August when the US Government officially requested Coke’s extradition to face drug and gun-running charges.

The Golding-led administration has refused to sign the authority to proceed, citing a breach of the Interception of Communications Act by the United States as their reason.

Coke has been named as the head of the Shower Posse, described by US authorities as a multi-national criminal organisation headquartered in Golding’s West Kingston constituency.

Speculation as to the Prime Minister’s future is rife on the streets of the capital. Meantime