Seaga: Too broad-based to warrant comments.OPPOSITION LEADER Edward Seaga last night dismissed the presentation by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson on the deliberations at last weekend's Cabinet retreat as a "wish list."
Mr. Seaga added that the presentation was "too broad-based and general to warrant specific comments".
In a statement last night on Mr. Patterson's presentation at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing on the retreat, Mr. Seaga said:
"In brief, the statement was a wish list of what the Government would want to see implemented to provide for a decent quality of life for the people.
"The question however, is not whether there should be:
Good quality education for the country, but when and from where the funds are to be provided to lift education from expenditure of 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the Budget to ensure quality education;
Good quality roads for effective transportation, but when and from where the funds are to be provided to raise expenditure on roads to $4 billion per annum to ensure proper roads.
"In many other areas of national life which must be dealt with to provide a decent quality of life, the same questions arises: when and where are the funds to be found.
"The over-riding concern of the country at this time, is the financial crunch that is not only preventing the provision of a good quality of life, but now threatens to destroy much of the quality of life presently enjoyed by the people.
"Nothing said by the Prime Minister touched this central issue. His statement drew a circle around the issue without making contact.
"Those who got to sleep tonight taking any comfort from his words will still awake tomorrow to the harsh realities which pose questions that urgently need answers that cannot wait.
"Life will be the same or worse until the central issues are tackled in a truthful and forthright manner without any more of the betrayal which the people now feel."
