We want full truth on IMF policy

BY Basil Nembhard

Hear out Basil Nembhard, who operates a grocery store in Settlement district, Manchester, on whether Prime Minister Andrew Holness should continue with the economic policies set by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

THOSE POLICIES are too harsh and we would never be able to achieve significant growth under those circumstances. We need clarification to be able to go forward.

The policies are not working, and because of that, we can't achieve growth under those stress and strains.

We can't continue along the same path that was there. First thing, we have to get a softer IMF (International Monetary Fund) policy, because the current one is too stringent. It is evident that the IMF policies are not applicable to our country. It's just not working.

The Holness administration has to renegotiate, and do that fast, because the people are feeling the pressure as a result of it. When they took office, the Golding administration took the two first years trying to dig up things, trying to put people in prison, so they wasted the two first years.

Consequence

Now they are trying to catch up after wasting all that time. They are lacking in vision and we are suffering the consequence.

Holness has to rethink and come again with some positive ideas.

Personally, I don't have any confidence in this Government. But we will be waiting to see what it is coming up with next.

Up to now, we have not received any word as to the real situation with the IMF. That is a mystery to everyone. We need clarification, and they need to sort out themselves fast.

Their emphasis is wrong, and they are using money in unnecessary areas; they need to get their priorities right. That road up Christiana cost nearly J$1 billion. You know how many things that money could have done? They are using the funds foolishly. That's why the country has so many problems.