Portia: JLP Government cannot be trusted
OPPOSITION Leader and President of the People’s National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller says the new Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government cannot be trusted as it has made promises it has no intention of keeping.
Simpson Miller was speaking at a press briefing following a meeting of the Opposition Council of Spokespersons Tuesday at the PNP’s Old Hope Road Headquarters in Kingston.
“Our council met today to discuss the business of the nation to review the state of affairs and to plan our work programme going forward. Since the last time we met, there has been the Throne Speech and the tabling of the Estimates of Expenditure, and from the Throne Speech it is clear that despite their many election promises the Government has created only few policies and programmes,” the party leader told members of the press.
She added that the estimates that have been tabled so far have been what she described as “major endorsements and a continuation of the policies and programmes the PNP achieved while in power”.
“How is that in their election rhetoric we were [described as] the worst Government who did nothing right, yet their entire statement of intent for the first financial year of their administration is almost entirely made up of policies and programmes that we planned or started? We will defend our legacy and policies and our programems that we championed to positively transform the Jamaican economy and society,” said Simpson Miller.
She stated that the Government should at least acknowledge that they are continuing the PNP’s policies and programmes.
She said, too, that the Throne Speech and budget estimates has showed that the Government has no clear idea or plan for economic management, growth and sustainable development.
“We intend to clearly establish the primary legacy of our term in office of placing Jamaica firmly on a path to sustainable growth and development with an economic programme based on sustainable debt reduction and improvement in the business environment particularly for the vulnerable. Each member of this council will defend the PNP’s legacy in their respective portfolio areas,” she said.
The Opposition, she stressed, would hold the Government accountable for the many promises they made to Jamaicans during the campaign season such as “no increase in taxes, an increase in minimum wage to $8,600 and the tax relief plan for PAYE workers”.
