Shaw rejects IMF claim by PNP

The Finance Minister Audley Shaw has rejected claims by the PNP that bungling on the part of the government has resulted in delays in the finalization of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).



During her presentation to the party’s annual conference yesterday, PNP president Portia Simpson-Miller claimed that the incompetence of the government led to the postponement of a visit by a technical team to Washington for talks with the IMF.



Addressing thousands of PNP supporters yesterday, Mrs Simpson-Miller charged that the government’s team was unable to answer critical questions posed by the IMF.



She further called for the prime minister to provide answers.



However Mr Shaw told the Gleaner Power 106 News that there is no truth to the claims by the PNP president and further described her pronouncement as irresponsible.



Meanwhile Mr Shaw is insisting that the negotiations with the IMF have been progressing smoothly.



He said Cabinet signed off on the final submission for the Fund when it met in an emergency meeting last Thursday.



A team including the central bank governor Derrick Lattibeudiere and the financial secretary Dr Wesley Hughes is to travel to Washington on Tuesday for further talks with the Fund.



Additionally Mr Shaw said he will leave the island on September 30 to attend the annual IMF World Bank meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.



Jamaica is seeking US$1.2 billion in a standby arrangement with the IMF.