PNP demands details of Gov't IMF proposal

WITH questions lingering about the state of the country's loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) wants the Government to tell the country what adjustments it will make to the deal.

Opposition Spokesman on finance, Dr Peter Phillips, who made the call on Sunday, said the country needs to know what proposals the Govern-ment is presenting to the IMF to save the agreement.

"Does it involve a wage freeze for public-sector workers, does it involve further layoff of public-sector workers, or does it involve changes to the levels of taxation?" he questioned.

Phillips, who was speaking at a PNP Region Three meeting at Dunoon High School in east Kingston, warned that there are going to be "significant adjustments" if the programme being discussed with the IMF is to be established.

Different approach

He said the new prime minister, Andrew Holness, has to take a different approach from his predecessor, Bruce Golding, and "level" with the Jamaican people.

"Don't ask us to buy a puss in a bag," he declared.

He also questioned the timing of Golding's departure, saying this was not the posture of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) up to a month ago.

"In the answer to that question, we will be able to understand the challenge that Jamaica faces," he asserted.

Phillips called the selection of Holness as prime minister an attempt by the governing JLP to confuse the people of Jamaica and present an impression that this was "a new situation".

"Apart from trying to present a face card to confuse the Jamaican people ... they are trying to disguise the fact that there is a massive crisis about to overcome Jamaica," Phillips charged.