NNC bemoans 'wanton disrespect' of Jamaicans

The New Nation Coalition (NNC) said yesterday it was "commiserating with the majority of Jamaicans who are depressed, broke, confused and engulfed by feelings of hopelessness during what is being described as the worst Christmas in many years".

In a release yesterday, the NNC said: "This feeling of hopelessness is at a time when we should all be experiencing joy at the celebration of the birth of Christ. Yet, the Coalition believes that our people should not lose hope, that we should shake our fear of standing up for what is right, and that courage and fortitude can take Jamaica to a better place in the New Year, as long as we are all united."

According to the release, NNC founder Betty Ann Blaine believes that it is clear that Jamaicans are searching for solutions and that, for too long, they have suffered and have been asked to make compromises on their quality of life.

"The past year has seen a continuation of the tribalistic nature of our political system, while the business of the people is neglected," Blaine said. "We have experienced some unfortunate events which have unfolded over the past year, and which have only served to distract from the country's development at a time when the world has been experiencing the greatest recession in our lifetime."

She added: "New Nation Coalition sympathises with the suffering of the over 90,000 persons who have lost their jobs, and the almost 500,000 persons who find themselves below the poverty line, at a time when Jamaica should be far advanced in our development after 48 years of independence. Our Coalition is committed to changing this for our people, and providing the opportunity for a better life for all, not based on political allegiance or on individual effort."

Blaine said the NNC was particularly disturbed by recent events such as additional taxation and the cancellation of all Christmas activities for public-service workers.

She noted that these moves by the state came despite the fact that Jamaicans have had to suffer no salary increases for the past two years, declining real incomes, and continuing job losses.

"Such insensitivity, on top of the imprudent decision to relocate the Jamaica Defence Force at tremendous cost to the taxpayers of this country," she lamented.

Consultation needed

"These unilateral decisions, imposed on the people of Jamaica, illustrate the wanton disrespect that continues to be shown to our people. There was no consultation on any of these decisions with the private sector, public sector, or union representatives. We cannot move forward as a country if we are not united, and we cannot be united if we do not respect our people enough to observe their rights and consult with them on matters that affect their welfare."

She added: "These new and unsettled taxes point to a government that has no interest in private sector survival, or any understanding of what is required to grow an economy. At a time when we should be relying on the private sector to lead us out of the longest period of decline this country has experienced, we are trying to kill the goose that has been laying the golden eggs."