The following is feedback from Gleaner Online readers to this newspaper's editorial on Sunday headlined 'Where is the Government? Simpson Miller administration AWOL'.

PM out of her league

I've been saying it all along that I doubt Portia Simpson Miller has the know how to govern Jamaica. She couldn't manage Barbados or Grenada, much less Jamaica. Both parties are to blame for Jamaica's economic troubles. There was a time when we were on par with some of our Caribbean neighbours, but now we are way behind in terms of our GDP/economic growth. Simpson Miller is out of her league here and she needs to step aside.

- sistaB

IneffIcient government

The Government really 'tun up the ting'. They have been turning up their inefficiency and mismanagement.

- doug

Communication lacking

Part of the problem in this country is that there is poor communication between Government and the people, perhaps deliberately so and for good reason. What does 140 per cent of GDP actually mean to the ordinary man in the street? This kind of language keeps the stark facts from the people. How about simply saying that for every $100 we earn, we spend $140! That is as clear as crystal! Everybody knows that if you have to be borrowing $40 more than you earn to pay bills every week, you are in big trouble. Honesty from our leaders is what we need.

- Saime Hashani

SAW IT COMING

I knew the PNP was going to do this again (Jamaicans sigh). Andrew Holness had a plan. If only we had stuck it out.

- Adrian

PUT THE PEOPLE FIRST

Sir, the Government needs to follow some very simple policies. Don't put party ahead of country, communicate with the people, live within your means just like you would at home. Save something for a rainy day and don't spend more than you are taking in. One hasn't got to be a rocket scientist to figure out that one.

- GCROOKS

NEED TO BE PRACTICAL

Editor, the trouble in Jamaica is that there are a lot of people in Parliament who only have book knowledge and never seek to develop practical knowledge.

- Joe

WHY THROW OUT PLAN?

How can you put out an economic plan before you get an agreement with the IMF? What would you say if the Government published a plan and then the IMF said it was not workable? You would accuse them of all kinds of things. So yes, they should wait for the IMF agreement.

- 7k7 George

IS IT COINCIDENCE?

The current situation has less to do with the persons and parties running affairs and more to do with changing energy, in particular oil markets. Those old enough to remember know that things started to deteriorate shortly after the PNP took office in 1972. It was about the same time that the rapid growth in world oil supplies after World War II ground to a halt.

It is oil prices and the growth, or lack thereof, of world oil production that is placing tremendous strain on the economies of most countries in the world. Is it just a coincidence that, with the exception of China and a few other Asian manufacturing economies, the economies that are struggling tend to be net oil importers while net oil exporters seem to be getting by just fine?

- POB

TIME FOR NEW APPROACH

The issues facing Jamaica are bigger than either political party today and one wonders if true solutions to our nation's predicament can be found within either party at any given time. Our system of governance does not encourage a meeting of all the brilliant minds to find solutions. Instead,it's one based on an adversarial philosophy. This approach to governance borders on selfishness and does not allow for the best minds to be tapped at any given moment when either party forms the Government. Perhaps we should have one centralised party which still offers to its people all the basic rights with Government members being selected, elected or replaced based on their performance within the portfolio they are responsible for.

-Guest