Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

Opposition Leader Bruce Golding is promising that a new Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration under his leadership will be off to a running start with several tasks to be accomplished in its first 100 days.

Mr. Golding, in an interview with The Gleaner, itemised mainly legislative and administra-tive matters, for early implementa-tion, contending that these would not require significant expenditure.

At the top of his agenda is passage of amendments to the Contractor General Act, to criminalise breaches of contract award procedures.

Legislative process

A bill setting out these amendments was tabled in Parliament a year ago by Mr. Golding, but has yet to advance through the legislative process.

The Opposition Leader would also see to the establishment of an independent investigative body to query police abuse of human rights, and the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to pursue instances of public corruption.

And, in an obvious swipe at Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, Mr. Golding promised: "When I become Prime Minister I don't expect that people will be wondering whether I'm still trying to find my feet and so on. They must know that we mean business and we're going to start from the first week we take office."

This expression of confidence in his chances of winning the next general election, contrasts with less than flattering poll findings, which show Simpson Miller, his counterpart, being more favoured than him in response to most questions asked.

Mr. Golding in turn has characterised the Prime Minister's leadership so far as lacking in direction and not being clearly defined. In contrast, he promised that he would be leading from the front and inspiring new thinking about the economy and improving social conditions in the country.

Among other things, Mr. Golding has promised that his administration will be spearheading the revitalisation of downtown Kingston. This, he said, will start with the return of as many government ministries and agencies as possible to the downtown business district.

"There are government buildings down there that are virtually empty and we are paying high cost rentals uptown. I would move as many of them back down there as possible," he pledged.

But that, according to Mr. Golding, was only part of the bigger picture, which will incorporate a comprehensive redesign of downtown Kingston and make it attractive to new private investments. Part of the strategy, he revealed, was to "tie in that redesign of downtown with the proposal that Mr. Seaga had put forwardÉfor that Freeport facility at Fort Augusta, tied in with the redevelopment of Port Royal for cruise shipping and so on".

A prime example of the Opposition Leader's vision for downtown Kingston is the rebirth of historic Harlem, New York. Pointing to the decision of former U.S. President Bill Clinton to locate his office in Harlem, he said this had induced many other persons of influence to move back into the community, making it once again an attractive business and residential district.

Editorial Note: See excerpts from Mr. Golding's interview with Earl Moxam in News Section)