No confidence

The Opposition will today table a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Bruce Golding in the House of Representatives despite his plea for forgiveness in the wake of public outcry over an extradition fiasco involving an alleged mobster.

In a statement issued late last night, the People's National Party (PNP) said Golding's appeal during an earlier public broadcast was an expedient attempt to save himself because of waning popularity.

"The prime minister's decision to authorise the minister of justice to sign the authority to proceed has only come about as a desperate attempt to rescue his political career and perpetuate him in the Office of Prime Minister."

The party maintained that the prime minister should resign "due to his pattern of persistent evasiveness, deception and betrayal of public trust" which has escalated the row between Jamaica and its northern neighbour, the United States.

"Up to now, the nation is not aware of what the prime minister is to be forgiven for since he has failed to come clean and lay out fully what he has done," the Opposition added.

The PNP said Golding's statements last night did not address accusations of doubletalk - first in March when he said the Government was not involved in dealings with US law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and last Tuesday when he admitted that he sanctioned it as party leader.

"All the questions which existed last night remain unanswered and unresolved."

The PNP also blasted Golding for ripping to shreds the country's image in the international community.

Golding committed to rule of law

However in his broadcast, Prime Minister Bruce Golding has vowed to speed up the implementation of new anti-crime and anti-corruption laws as his administration tries to convince the country that it remains committed to the rule of law and order.

Golding and his team have faced criticism locally and overseas for their position on the Christopher 'Dudus' Coke extradition request with many persons claiming that the administration was trying to shield an alleged drug dealer and firearms trafficker.

"This matter of the extradition has consumed too much of our energies and attention and has led to a virtual paralysis that must be broken," Golding said.

According to Golding, the Government is to implement a wide range of political and constitutional reform measures to transform the way politics is conducted and the way Government operates and to stamp out corruption and hold public officials to account.

The prime minister said some of the legislative changes were already implemented, or were at an advanced stage.