Davies fires back at Shaw
Published: Friday | October 24, 2008
Davies
Former finance Minister Dr Omar Davies, yesterday fired back at Audley Shaw, the current minister of finance and the public service, over criticisms about the past administration.
Davies made it clear that he was not interested in a quarrel with Shaw, but said Shaw's utterances were a "hysterical" outburst.
On Wednesday, Shaw accused Davies and the former People's National Party (PNP) administration of mismanaging the economy, leaving the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government with more than $200 billion in bills which were not included in the official figures.
Shaw also pointed to the agreement to increase the salaries of public-school teachers to 80 per cent of those in the private sector, and the forward sale of bauxite from Jamaica, as two examples of decisions by the PNP administration which would cost the country dearly.
Shaw's claims followed a PNP press conference on Tuesday to review the Government's performance since it took office.
"The administration is yet to respond to the substantive issues that I have raised and no level of ranting can obscure the facts," Davies said.
According to Davies, it is unfortunate that the finance minister would have information for the public and choose to release it only because of an opposition press conference.
Davies noted that the finance minister has promised to reveal more "scandals" and challenged Shaw to discharge his official duties and reveal whatever he knows.
"The tactics which he used in Opposition will not conceal his obvious haplessness in the face of real challenges, domestic and international," Davies added.
Teachers' salaries
The former finance minister also rejected Shaw's claim that he acted unilaterally in promising to increase teachers' salaries to 80 per cent of market.
"The decision to commission a study on emoluments for teachers followed discussions involving the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and the JTA (Jamaica Teachers' Association) and was approved by Cabinet," Davies said in a release.
According to Davies, the consultants were asked to provide recommendations and the Opposition was not privy to these recommendations or the ensuing discussions between the finance ministry and the JTA.
"It is unfortunate that at this stage Minister Shaw would seek to pass off responsibility for his actions to the previous adminis-tration," Davies said.
arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com
Davies' issues
| (i) | Overall cost of living has increased by over 25 per cent during the Government's first year in office; |
| (ii) | Food prices have increased by 35 per cent during the same period |
| (iii) | The Capital Budget has been slashed by 35 per cent over the first five months of the Fiscal Year; |
| (iv) | The inflation target for the fiscal year has been exceeded after the first six months and |
| (v) | Interest rates on government paper has increased by approximately 30 per cent.
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