'We'll hold Golding accountable' - PSOJ

Joseph M. Matalon, president of the Private Sector Organisation (PSOJ), has declared that the group will been ensuring that the prime minister's promises about political renewal are kept.

Golding made the promises in a national broadcast on Monday night.

Addressing a luncheon held by the Insurance Association of Jamaica at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew yesterday, the PSOJ head also said the private sector would resume talks with the Government under the Partnership for Transformation initiative.

"The PM's mea culpa now sets the stage, I believe, for a continuation of these talks and for more focused action on many of the issues to which the PM has given the nation specific commitments," Matalon said.

"You may rest assured that the PSOJ will insist on deadlines for these commitments and keenly monitor their implementation to ensure that the prime minister is true to his word."

On Tuesday, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce also echoed these sentiments.

Golding in his speech promised to fast-track measures to reverse the institutionalisation of political tribalism and garrison; to institute provisions for the impeachment of public officials; and to look at term limits for the prime minister, among other things.

Opportunity for sea of change

Matalon said the occurrences in Jamaica over the past few days have provided the opportunity for a sea of change in both the public and private sectors.

He told the gathering that Jamaica needs a 'game changer' in reshaping the approach towards crime and violence.

"We must now take decisive steps towards dismantling political garrisons. We must make it clear to our political directorate that they must commit to ceasing the award of state contracts to organisations with reputed criminal partners and associates, and to stop accepting donations from such individuals and tainted entities," he said.

In this regard, Matalon said the governing Jamaica Labour Party and the Opposition People's National Party should commit to annually turning over their list of contributors to the political ombudsman to show that they are not receiving contributions from known or reputed criminals and are not beholden to these characters.

He also called for the Government to enact the delayed crime bills, which should include stronger wiretapping legislation to allow the intelligence collected in judicially authorised wiretappings to be more readily entered as evidence in court.

Matalon also called for the amendment of the Bail Act to broaden the considerations for denial of bail to persons who have committed serious and heinous crimes, and the passing of omnibus post-arrest processing legislation to permit fingerprinting and photographing of all persons charged with violent offences, and for the collection and storage of DNA of persons charged with violent offences, as well as for repeat offenders.