Headlines:
| PM placed in the hot seat on BBC talk show |
|
|
| Tuesday, 20 May 2008 | |
 The high crime rate, the link between politicians and
gunmen and Jamaica's
corruption index were some of the hot button issues that Prime Minister Bruce
Golding fielded on Monday night on an international television programme.Mr. Golding, who is on a week-long visit to the United Kingdom, was a guest on the widely watched BBC Hardtalk. In the 30 minute interview the Prime Minister was literally grilled by the host Stephen Sackur, who as usual came armed with research findings. With the country buckling under the high murder rate, it was little wonder that Mr. Golding was forced to defend the link between crime and politics. "We are going to identify, for example, those contractors who have been receiving government contracts and who are themselves involved in garrison activity and they will be taken off the government's contractors list," said Mr. Golding. "Prime Minister, if I may, you sound completely detached from this, you represent a constituency that is dominated by garrisons," interjected Mr. Sackur. "With the lowest crime rate in the entire Jamaica," Mr. Golding fired back. "That does not prove that organized crime is not taking place, it only proves that perhaps the criminals have a very effective way of avoiding arrest," "No, what that proves is that there is a transformation that has been taking place in west Kingston over the past five years that continues," Mr. Golding defended. Meanwhile, the quarrel over the construction of the Spanish-owned RIU hotel was also grit for the interview. Mr. Golding was forced to defend criticisms that Jamaica had a bad investment climate linked to corruption. "Despite the crime rate investments continue to flow. We are negotiating now with some major new investment, we have one resort development worth between five and seven billion US dollars," HARDtalk has a reputation of asking difficult questions of world renown figures including international political leaders, entertainers, corporate decision-makers and ordinary individuals facing huge challenges. Meanwhile the Prime Minister also had to defend his government's stance on gay rights on the programme. Mr. Golding was put on the spot as the HARDtalk host peppered him with questions about homosexuals holding public office in Jamaica. With the UK media spotlight on the Prime Minister and Jamaica's reputation for homophobia, Mr. Golding was questioned on his government's position on the controversial matter. He made it clear that while each Jamaican should have the right to privacy and equality before the law, his administration would not bow to international pressure for the recognition of gay rights. "Jamaica is not going to allow values to be imposed on it from outside, we are going to have to determine that ourselves and we are going to have to determine to what extent those values will adapt over time, changing the perception and to changing understanding as to how people live. But it can't be on the basis that a lobby group, far and away from Jamaica, is going to start to define for Jamaica how it must establish its own standards and morals," he said. Mr. Golding insisted that he would not change his previously stated position that homosexuals would not find a place in his cabinet. "That is a decision that every Prime Minister makes. A Prime Minister must decide what he feels would represent to the Jamaican people a Cabinet of ministers who would be able to discharge their functions without fear, favour or intimidation," he said. |