The Government is pleading for understanding but preparing for battle as it holds firm to its decision to freeze public sector wages this year.

With at least one public sector group heading to court to challenge the wage freeze and others hinting at protest action, Prime Minister Bruce Golding was yesterday unapologetic.

The prime minister reiterated the Government's stance, saying it would not budge because it had no money to pay in the wake of the global economic crisis.

Unreasonable

According to Golding, some of the bargaining groups have been unreasonable in their demands.

"We understand the plight the country is in, we understand that the world is going through this problem, just give me my seven per cent and we will understand it even better," the prime minister mocked.

"I don't care how savaged the economy is, I don't care that this is something that has brought down more powerful economies than Jamaica's. I want my pound of flesh, which is what some of them are saying, and my response is take your pound of flesh but not one drop of blood," declared Golding at yesterday's post-Cabinet media briefing.

No choice

According to Golding, while he accepts the unions' claim that there was a contract in place for a seven per cent wage increase, the reality has left the Govern-ment with no choice.

"I pick no fight with anyone, but what this country doesn't need right now is a leader that does not know how to say no. What this country doesn't need is a leader who is afraid to stand up to whatever the forces are and to indicate the direction which the country cannot be allowed to go in," a militant Golding said.

However, in a concession to public sector workers, Golding said the finance ministry was looking at a mechanism which would allow the seven per cent increase, which has been frozen, to be calculated as part of the income for the pension of persons who might retire before any other increase is granted.

Ready for court

He added that Finance Minister Audley Shaw was also looking at measures to assist private sector workers who will be worse off because of the tax on allowances, despite the increase in the income-tax threshold.

In the meantime, Labour Minister Pearnel Charles made it clear that the Government was prepared to face the Island Special Constabulary Force and any other group in court over the issue of the wage freeze.

- A.H.