Bunting, Robinson in US to deal with lottery scam fallout

National Security Minister Peter Bunting and State Minister for Energy, Mining and ICT, Julian Robinson are now in the United States, where they are reportedly meeting with US officials regarding the lottery scam issue.

Foreign Affairs minister ,Senator A.J. Nicholson says both men left the island on the weekend.
  
The ministers are reportedly discussing with US officials ways to minimise the likely negative effects on Jamaica of the media publicity of the scam.

In a release yesterday, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness criticised the Government for what he said was the lack of strategic planning to mitigate the damage to brand Jamaica from international press reports on the lottery scam.

Holness said the fallout from the negative publicity surrounding the scam could have been anticipated, and the relevant crisis management initiatives put in place.

But responding to the criticism, Justice Minister Mark Golding said the opposition was being hypocritical, as it had allowed the scam to grow unfettered while it was in power.

Senator Golding says the Government has since January implemented several initiatives to to combat the effects of the scam.

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