Opposition not impressed by PM's economic policy statement

By Kimone Witter    

 

Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson says the government's economic policy direction statement, delivered by Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday, is a repeat of previously announced initiatives that were not implemented.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Wednesday morning, Mr. Robinson said he was not convinced the administration's plans under its growth agenda will be fullfilled.

 

He reiterated the People's National Party's position that the government has failed to implement structural reforms that benefit all Jamaicans. 

 

"What I would say is the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) has been in office for two months shy of nine years, nine consecutive years. And what the PM really did was to rehash a number of announcements and initiatives that have been said over the last nine years, but have not been implemented. He really didn't come to the table with anything that is fundamentally and new or different. And really what it points to is a failure of this government to advance the growth agenda," he asserted. 

 

While he acknowledged that the government's focus on reducing debt was the correct move, Mr. Robinson argued that its implementation was at the "expense of any growth strategy whatsoever". 

 

"So on the eve of our general election, he's now presenting a pillar for growth. Now, why wouldn't this be something that was done over the nine-year period? So from our perspective, we're not impressed with what he has said, because he has said all of those things already," he maintained. 

 

Mr. Robinson believes the government is attempting to win over voters who are not happy with its handling of the country's development, as captured in a recent Don Anderson poll. 

 

"I think it is to try and convince people who have said that the country is going in the wrong direction, people who are struggling to make ends meet, that they have some plan to lift living standards for the majority of the Jamaican people. You've had nine years to do it, and you have not been successful. And I really want to say to the Jamaican people that they shouldn't be fooled by this presentation," insisted the opposition spokesman. 

 

The government has unveiled what it said is a bold new framework to guide the nation's pivot to inclusive economic growth, dubbed ASPIRE Jamaica.

 

This strategy, announced by Prime Minister Holness, outlines six critical pillars namely: Access to Economic Opportunity for All; Safety and Security; People or Human Capital Development; Infrastructure Development; Reform of the Bureaucracy and Economic Diversification.