Advocacy group calls for bipartisan talks

An advocacy group is calling for an urgent meeting between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to discuss the issue of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal and the wider economy.

Jamaicans United for Sustainable Development said it also expects the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to halt its plans to begin its 2016 election campaign now.

Two weeks ago at its annual conference, the Opposition Leader Andrew Holness declared that his party has already started the campaign for next general election.

However, the group feels this move will be counter-productive and unnecessary, blaming the state of Jamaica’s economy on political party division and hostility.

The group is also proposing that former central bank governor, Derrick Lattibeaudiere be appointed to head Jamaica’s IMF negotiating team.

It has called for the setting up of an Action Team to work with the Administrative Reform Unit to drive the reform process and deal with issues of waste, expenditure and the removal of red tape.

Pension and tax reform, the high cost of electricity, and a new citizen and police alliance are also on the group’s list of issues it wants both political parties to deal with.

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