JLP gives Gov’t failing grade after 100 days

Debbie-Ann Wright, Assistant News Editor

The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre



Declaring that the country is currently at a standstill, the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has given the government a failing grade for its performance in its first 100 days in power.



The pronouncement was made this afternoon at a press conference called by the JLP to present its assessment of the People’s National Party (PNP) administration.



The JLP gave a list of what it said are unfulfilled promises made in the campaign leading up to the December 29 general elections.



The Opposition Leader Andrew Holness said when the government’s performance is matched against its campaign promises the country seems to be on auto-pilot, with the government in wait-and-see mode.



According to Holness, at this point, the government should have had in place a slate of policies and it should have fulfilled at least two major promises it made in the campaign.



But the Opposition leader says none of these have been accomplished to date.



Among the PNP's campaign promises were a renegotiation of Jamaica’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund within weeks of taking power.



Holness says it has now been proven that the commitment was impractical.



He says the government has also failed to remove the general consumption tax on electricity even though all it would require is a signature from the finance minister.



The Opposition also says the government has failed to adequately address rising fuel prices and increased crime levels.



In addition, Holness has labelled the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP)as a failure.



According to Holness the JEEP on which the PNP had based much of its campaign, has amounted to merely a rotation of jobs.



debbie-ann.wrigt@gleanerjm.com