Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Bruce Golding greets Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller at his official residence, just before the start of the bipartisan Vale Royal talks yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

IN A striking contrast to the barb-like political image for which Jamaica has become known, smiles and cheerful words overpowered any hint of a stand-off between the country's two major political parties as the Vale Royal talks resumed at the Prime Minister's official residence in St. Andrew yesterday.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who had jabbed at the People's National Party (PNP) by saying the leadership of the PNP was suffering from "intellectual depravity", gladly welcomed Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and her team for talks.

The Simpson Miller-led PNP contingent was rounded out by Dr. Peter Phillips, Peter Bunting, Donald Buchanan, Robert Pickersgill, A.J. Nicholson and Dr. Omar Davies.

Golding led a JLP contingent made up of Karl Samuda, Ken Baugh, Dorothy Lightbourne, Derrick Smith and Audley Shaw.

Bunting, who was on Sunday elected new PNP general secretary, got congratulations and a smile from the Prime Minister, who in good spirit asked Donald Buchanan, "What do I say to you?"

Buchanan smiled and responded, "How are you, Mr. Prime Minister?"

Critical issues

The Vale Royal talks started under former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in the 1990s. They are used to discuss critical issues facing the nation but were in danger of not taking place after Golding's comments, weeks after the JLP won the September 3, 2007, General Election.

Golding had responded to Simpson Miller, who had suggested that his government was responsible for huge price increases.

Almost immediately, the PNP said it would not meet with the JLP, but later backtracked in what it called the "country's interest".

Yesterday, Prime Minister Golding was optimistic about the talks as they resumed.

"I believe that much value can come from it," Golding said.

"It is going to require goodwill and sincerity on both sides, and I have every reason to believe that that will be forthcoming," he said shortly before the closed-door talks began.

Simpson Miller said she was unable to speak to her party's expectations but she, too, believed the meetings are important.

"The important thing is that in the interest of the nation, we are meeting on issues that can affect the Jamaican people, and where we can have parliamentary consensus we can begin the discussion so that we can have better consensus on the issues affecting the nation," Simpson Miller said.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com