Seaga OPPOSITION LEADER Edward Seaga has charged that the governing People's National Party (PNP) has lost control of the economy, the criminal justice system and other crucial areas of governance. He said the PNP has been reduced to a caretaker government incapable of providing economic growth after 11 years in office.
He also blasted the P.J. Patterson-led administration for "selling off" the country because of its inability to manage and asserted that the country was now in the deepest crisis it has been since Independence as it was now unclear who was running the Government.
Mr. Seaga was speaking yesterday at the JLP's constituency lconference for East Rural St. Andrew at the Donald Quarrie Comprehensive High Schoo where newcomer Dr. Ronald Robinson, was formally presented to constituents.
In pointing to what he said were weekly prison breaks, Mr. Seaga said the Government had recently considered putting the operations of the prisons into private hands, another sign that it was unable to manage.
He charged that the move to divest the state-owned Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) was also an indication of mismanagement by the Government. "They (the PNP) can't grow the economy as piece by piece they are selling out they selling out the banks, they selling out the insurance companies, they selling out everything because they can't manage," he said.
The Opposition Leader also said the JLP was opposed to the divestment of the Sangster International Airport. "What that means is that for you to come into your own country you have to walk through foreign soil to get there.
Somebody (is) going to own that piece of land that you call the airport, who is a foreigner, and you (will) have to beg pass to come into your own country," said Mr. Seaga. "This is a sign of mental deterioration and desperation in the minds of the People's National Party government."
The matter, he said, is to be discussed today at a sitting of the Standing Committee of executive of the JLP.
On the issue of crime and the drug scandal rocking the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Mr. Seaga said the Government's inability to grow the economy in the past six years had resulted in social and economic frustration, which in turn had led to an epidemic of crime in the country.
He noted that the breakdown of law and order had resulted in an increase in the number of robberies taking place, extortion of businesses and an increase in drug activity "to the point where we now have reason to believe that our police force has been seriously contaminated".
According to the Opposition Leader, when the police are compromised, the government was no longer in control of the country. He lamented that the country had reached the stage where the government has "lost control of the economy, lost control of running the various departments of government and now it is losing control of the criminal justice system." He said this had come about in such a manner that "we all have to be fearful and frightened as to what is in store for us in the future."
The JLP leader said it had never happened before where policemen at the very top of the Jamaica Constabulary are in the control of drug dealers.
Mr. Seaga, who was in an upbeat mood and clearly buoyed by recent opinion polls which shows the JLP making significant gains on the PNP, promised that a future JLP government that will restore faith in the justice system, create meaningful employment and produce literate graduates from the secondary school system.
He said it was not justice to kill a man because he smokes a (ganja) spliff while senior policemen are making millions dealing in drugs. "Stop worry bout di small fry and go get di big fish. Catch di whale and leave the sprat alone," he said to thunderous applause.
