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What do you want to hear from Finance Minister Audley Shaw when he opens the Budget Debate on April 23?

Will Bodden:

I would like to know when the honourable minister is going to include outstanding money in the Budget for the huge welcome party for our athletes at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose last year. To date, no one in Trelawny has been paid for goods and services provided for the event. Over J$700,000 is owed, can you believe that? Tired of the runaround. We need to be paid now!

Give us sound fiscal programmes

Steve:

I want 'Man-a-Yaad' to tell us how he intends to finance the Budget. Is he still going to pursue Omar Davies' policy of borrow and spend? Are we finally going to see a policy that discourages consumption of imports? What are we doing to tackle the import deficit? Is the Government going to get out of commercial activities? Are capital imports going to be taxed at a rate that encourages investment? How much money has the Government been printing?

I know that interest rates are primarily the responsibility of Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), but the BOJ is his responsibility. When can the business community expect to get loans at a lower rate?

What plans does the Government have to grow the GDP (gross domestic product) over the next 10 years? What is the industrial policy of Jamaica? Finally, is the IMF a viable alternative at this time?

Oh, I do not want to hear about the past 18 years, that is a crutch for the feeble-minded amongst us.

In short, I want a solid macroeconomics Budget with sound fiscal programmes with an eye on the next 10 years, at a minimum.

Over to you, Man-a-Yaad!!

Prime Minister Bruce Golding

Wage freeze: Fair or unfair?

Richard:

The Prime Minister has a point, but not much credibility ... . Why didn't he talk to the unions and why didn't he apologise after he offended them?

Then, why does he still have 17 ministers; why not cut that first ... ? Most ministers make in excess of $4 million a year. Does he really need 17 ministers?

Shawn:

This move is highly unreasonable seeing that public-sector workers have been already asked to hold strain in the recent MOUs and accepting as little as three per cent increase. What must the workers do when their pay is frozen and everything else continues to increase!!!

Bob:

To me, it should be a wage cut across the board of 15 per cent until the economy recovers. Some of the public-sector workers are not pulling their weight.

Spice:

This is a very delicate situation; the prime minister has to be careful in not honouring a signed agreement but, at the same time, the reality is that there really is no money to pay these increases. Trade union leaders and the Government will have to come to a compromise but it makes no sense to fight fire with fire as the prime minister threatens to let go workers and the union leaders are considering strike action. Come to a compromise, people.

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