While claiming the Government has done little to encourage private-sector investment, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness yesterday chastised private-sector leaders for what he claimed was their failure to hold the Portia Simpson Miller administration accountable.

Holness, criticising the administration a day after the prime minister's broadcast to the nation, accused private-sector leaders of apologising for the Government at a time when the country is in economic turmoil.

"What I find coming from our leaders in the private sector, and general commentaries, is that there is a sense of apology for the Government," Holness declared during a press briefing held at the Office of the Opposition Leader in St Andrew.

"There is no real sense of holding the Government to account. After one year the Government is solidly in charge, the Opposition has not threatened any street protest, we have not threatened to destabilise any government," Holness said.

Impractical request

The Opposition leader said also that it was impractical for the Government to be calling for the private sector to invest in the economy when the environment is signalling uncertainty.

"You can make the call using moral suasion, but if in practical terms all the signals are showing that things are not going to get better, can you really ask a private individual to invest?"

Holness added: "We can wish all we want but there are practical things that when people go to sit down to make their decisions they have to take into account. The real issue here is whether or not the Government is doing what is necessary to inure confidence in the private sector to invest."