G2K accuses PJ of memory lapse

Generation 2000 (G2K), the young-professional arm of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has taken former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to task over remarks he made on Saturday during the private session of the 73rd annual conference of the People's National Party.

According to G2K President Delano Seiveright, Patterson's claims were "indicative of either momentary memory loss or intellectual dishonesty".

Seiveright charged that "Patterson's 14-year reign as prime minister from 1992 to 2006 was characterised by a devastating economic and financial meltdown, general economic mismanagement, skyrocketing crime rates, record-breaking corruption scandals, bad contractual arrangements, gross governmental mismanagement, incompetence and hopelessness".

Comprehensive package

He said while the four-year-old JLP administration is imperfect, it has systematically set the foundations to over time address the challenges facing Jamaica through a comprehensive package of reforms and initiatives that have led to the stabilisation of the Jamaican economy despite global economic malaise,

Seiveright further claimed that the Bruce Golding administration has achieved major reductions in crime, strong anti-corruption initiatives, strengthened social safety-net policies, major developments in tourism, agriculture and transport, fundamental reforms in health and education and improved governmental management across the board.

"All well-thinking Jamaicans should reject populist rhetoric and focus on assessing the facts at all times and support leadership with a demonstrated capacity to lead," said Seiveright.

He was reacting to Patterson's claim that things had become so bad in Jamaica that even business people who supported the JLP in 2007 were now having second thoughts.

According to Patterson, poor people, pensioners, workers, public servants, teachers and the business community have all been pushed backwards by the Golding administration.

The former PNP president characterised the present JLP administration as inept and arrogant.

He claimed that any hope of the restoration of honour in Jamaica rests with the PNP's victory at the next election.