Dear Editor,
Allow me the opportunity to express myself with regards to a Jamaica Observer column, which appeared on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, written by Robert Dalley.
Having found the headline ‘Bunting the most prepared successor’ extremely interesting, I read with much interest the entire piece and must admit that, based on the disappointing performance of Portia Simpson Miller as prime minister, and Peter Phillips as finance minister, during that period of four years and two months, I am now of the opinion that Peter Bunting is the appropriate person to be given the mantle to be the next People’s National Party (PNP) leader.
As a professional and chartered accountant I say without fear of contradiction that Phillips only achieved passing all the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) extended fund facility’s tests for the country. He achieved nothing positive in economic benefits for the country during his tenure.
Dalley in his opinion piece reminded us of the 40 per cent depreciation of the Jamaican dollar when compared to the United States dollar and the outrageous total taxes of $58 billion that were unconscionably levied on us Jamaicans over the period of his run as finance minister.
If Phillips thought that passing 10 or 11 IMF tests would solve all of the country’s major economic problems and create 10 per cent economic growth annually, I must sincerely ask this question here, does Phillips take us Jamaicans for clowns or fools?
He kept trotting out his achievements of passing those quarterly IMF tests, ignoring to the country’s peril: no economic growth, no meaningful job creation, poverty kept increasing, and the economy literally stagnated. Clearly he had not a clue of what policies were needed to be implemented to achieve annual economic growth.
I borrow a political phrase from Finance Minister Audley Shaw: Phillips passed several IMF tests but failed the people’s test. The facts are the facts.
Phillips has served in numerous ministerial positions over his political career. In which ministry has he ever succeeded in making any substantial mark benefiting this country?
I have to agree with Robert Dalley in his column when he writes that Peter Bunting is the best prepared to take over from Simpson Miller. When Bruce Golding resigned as prime minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), he handed over to Andrew Holness after consultation with those JLP members who were serving in Parliament at that time. It is my humble thinking that Simpson Miller should now resign before conference and hand over the leadership position to Peter Bunting. This would allow Bunting to be appointed leader of the Opposition and party president.
Richard L Tomlinson, CA, CPA
Montego Bay, St James
ritchietomlinson@hotmail.com
Allow me the opportunity to express myself with regards to a Jamaica Observer column, which appeared on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, written by Robert Dalley.
Having found the headline ‘Bunting the most prepared successor’ extremely interesting, I read with much interest the entire piece and must admit that, based on the disappointing performance of Portia Simpson Miller as prime minister, and Peter Phillips as finance minister, during that period of four years and two months, I am now of the opinion that Peter Bunting is the appropriate person to be given the mantle to be the next People’s National Party (PNP) leader.
As a professional and chartered accountant I say without fear of contradiction that Phillips only achieved passing all the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) extended fund facility’s tests for the country. He achieved nothing positive in economic benefits for the country during his tenure.
Dalley in his opinion piece reminded us of the 40 per cent depreciation of the Jamaican dollar when compared to the United States dollar and the outrageous total taxes of $58 billion that were unconscionably levied on us Jamaicans over the period of his run as finance minister.
If Phillips thought that passing 10 or 11 IMF tests would solve all of the country’s major economic problems and create 10 per cent economic growth annually, I must sincerely ask this question here, does Phillips take us Jamaicans for clowns or fools?
He kept trotting out his achievements of passing those quarterly IMF tests, ignoring to the country’s peril: no economic growth, no meaningful job creation, poverty kept increasing, and the economy literally stagnated. Clearly he had not a clue of what policies were needed to be implemented to achieve annual economic growth.
I borrow a political phrase from Finance Minister Audley Shaw: Phillips passed several IMF tests but failed the people’s test. The facts are the facts.
Phillips has served in numerous ministerial positions over his political career. In which ministry has he ever succeeded in making any substantial mark benefiting this country?
I have to agree with Robert Dalley in his column when he writes that Peter Bunting is the best prepared to take over from Simpson Miller. When Bruce Golding resigned as prime minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), he handed over to Andrew Holness after consultation with those JLP members who were serving in Parliament at that time. It is my humble thinking that Simpson Miller should now resign before conference and hand over the leadership position to Peter Bunting. This would allow Bunting to be appointed leader of the Opposition and party president.
Richard L Tomlinson, CA, CPA
Montego Bay, St James
ritchietomlinson@hotmail.com