Roland Brammer, Gleaner Writer
BRUCE GOLDING
NEW YORK:
JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding has reiterated his opposition to the concentration of power in the hands of Jamaican Prime Ministers.
Addressing a luncheon organised by the Jamaica American Chamber of Commerce held at the 3 West Club in Manhattan last week, Mr. Golding also objected to a Jamaican Government having the power to run up huge national debts.
"I am convinced and determined ... that part of what has afflicted Jamaica is the enormous concentration of power in the hands of the Prime Minister. This is something I believe must be corrected ... " the Opposition Leader told Jamaican and other business people.
He was a guest of the Jamaica National Building Society and the Gleaner Company Limited as the main speaker for their 'Outlook on the Future' series: A forum on the Jamaican economy, which started three years ago. Previous speakers at this event have been Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning; and Dr. Peter Phillps, the Minister of National Security.
Continued Mr. Golding: "I believe it is dangerous to allow any government, no matter how strong or powerful or marginal its majority, to expand the national debt as it sees fit without any restraints or constraints. I (also ) believe it is wrong and is dangerous to have a system that allows government to incur deficit year after year."
He said that because of the absence of growth and the huge debt the Jamaican Government has to carry, it has left the nation unable to perform the functions for which government was elected. Mr. Golding said that it created difficulties for the Government to provide the security forces with the level of resources that they need.
The high debt burden, he suggested, also made government unable to provide the education system with the necessary tools, facilities and level of remuneration it needs to train the nation's youngsters.
NEW CHARTER
Mr. Golding told the gathering that the governing People's National Party (PNP) and the Opposition JLP have agreed to a new charter of fundamental rights to secure the rights of citizens. "We have agreed with the Government on the establishment of a charter of rights that are going to ensure that measures are put in place that if in the event these measures are violated that there is a process of redress that the citizens must have access to," he emphasised.
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