Dear Editor,
Before the recent general election People’s National Party (PNP) Government-appointed chairman of the National Insurance Fund Ralston Hyman said in a speech at a service club that the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) $1.5-million tax-free plan would damage the economy, would cost some $34 billion, and that Jamaicans should vote for the then Government.
I have also heard the extremely garrulous Ralston Hyman encourage support for the programme being followed by the then Government. During the former PNP-led regime, with Portia Simpson Miller at the helm, Hyman consistently lambasted then Opposition spokesman on finance and public service Audley Shaw, questioning everything he said on economic issues and suggesting that as finance minister, under the Bruce Golding-led Government of 2007-2011, Shaw failed. He referred to Peter Phillips as a successful finance minister and that the electorate should maintain his Government.
Hyman is therefore not at all an independent economic analyst. His clear political bias for the PNP should preclude him from a claim to be an independent economic and financial analyst and broadcast journalist. Hyman should forthwith resign as an Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) member and allow an independent person to be appointed.
EPOC members should not be political people. The other EPOC members are leaders in industry and service and have managed to hold whatever biases they have — if they in fact have any. I believe they have performed creditably so far.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Finance Minister Audley Shaw have categorically stated that the JLP Government will continue the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme until it officially ends in March 2017 and will firmly adhere to the requirements, stipulation, and economic targets as outlined and tabulated in the agreement. The IMF has full confidence in this commitment.
I am recommending Hyman to be the PNP’s Opposition spokesman on information.
Robert Dalley
St James
robertdalley1@hotmail.com
Before the recent general election People’s National Party (PNP) Government-appointed chairman of the National Insurance Fund Ralston Hyman said in a speech at a service club that the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) $1.5-million tax-free plan would damage the economy, would cost some $34 billion, and that Jamaicans should vote for the then Government.
I have also heard the extremely garrulous Ralston Hyman encourage support for the programme being followed by the then Government. During the former PNP-led regime, with Portia Simpson Miller at the helm, Hyman consistently lambasted then Opposition spokesman on finance and public service Audley Shaw, questioning everything he said on economic issues and suggesting that as finance minister, under the Bruce Golding-led Government of 2007-2011, Shaw failed. He referred to Peter Phillips as a successful finance minister and that the electorate should maintain his Government.
Hyman is therefore not at all an independent economic analyst. His clear political bias for the PNP should preclude him from a claim to be an independent economic and financial analyst and broadcast journalist. Hyman should forthwith resign as an Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) member and allow an independent person to be appointed.
EPOC members should not be political people. The other EPOC members are leaders in industry and service and have managed to hold whatever biases they have — if they in fact have any. I believe they have performed creditably so far.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Finance Minister Audley Shaw have categorically stated that the JLP Government will continue the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme until it officially ends in March 2017 and will firmly adhere to the requirements, stipulation, and economic targets as outlined and tabulated in the agreement. The IMF has full confidence in this commitment.
I am recommending Hyman to be the PNP’s Opposition spokesman on information.
Robert Dalley
St James
robertdalley1@hotmail.com