Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson Miller addresses a People's National Party (PNP) press conference on the urgency for right action 'An Analysis of the JLP's 100 Days in Office' yesterday at the PNP's Old Hope Road headquarters, St. Andrew. At left is Omar Davies, PNP Spokesman on Finance, and party chairman, Robert Pickersgill. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
The Opposition People's National Party (PNP) yesterday gave the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) a failing grade on crime, its management of the economy and goverance during its first 100 days in office.
In fact, according to the Opposition, the Government's performance to date has been disappointing. Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, who addressed a press conference yesterday at the PNP's Old Hope Road headquarters, contended that the level of crime has increased significantly. She noted that one month after the new administration took the reins of government, the murder rate escalated with October 2007 "declared the bloodiest month in Jamaica's history".
According to police figures, 144 people were killed in October. However, November has been an even bloodier month with at least 166 people murdered. But there have been even bloodier months in recent past. (See table).
Calls for food subsidy
In terms of the economy, the Opposition has once more called on the Government to provide some form of subsidy on basic food items to ease the burden on the poor and minimum wage earners whose spending power have been wiped out by the soaring inflation rate.
"Prices of the most basic food items have risen by an average of 20 per cent and continue to increase," Mrs. Simpson Miller said.
In response to the earlier call, the Government had said it could not provide a subsidy on basic food items at this time.
Charging that the administration had failed to deliver on several of its commitments during the stipulated period, the Opposition Leader criticised the Government on its performance on a number of fronts.
She said the economy was "out of control and the Jamaican dollar continues to devalue and interest rates have spiralled upwards".
With another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU3) on the horizon for public sector workers, former Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies said the new administration would face serious challenges in its efforts to negotiate a new agreement with civil servants.
Dr. Davies argued that inflation for the 2007/2008 fiscal year will increase to approximately 13 per cent.
However, he said the Opposition was in full support of a new MOU, having successfully negotiated MoU1 and MoU2 while in power.
Turning to the Government's action in dismissing members of the Public Service Commission, Mrs. Simpson Miller described the move as "dictatorial and disturbing".
Mrs. Simpson Miller revealed yesterday that she had received a letter from Mr. Golding late Friday on his intention to appoint new members to the PSC. She said she would respond to Mr. Golding's letter later this week.
Murder by month
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
| Jan | 149 | 118 | 146 |
| Feb | 98 | 99 | 120 |
| Mar | 121 | 97 | 158 |
| Apr | 119 | 129 | 128 |
| May | 102 | 130 | 170 |
| June | 120 | 87 | 143 |
| July | 136 | 96 | 145 |
| Aug | 129 | 96 | 124 |
| Sep | 134 | 103 | 136 |
| Oct | 144 | 125 | 131 |
