Unpopularity is a price we're willing to pay – Vaz

THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)-led government is not worried about becoming unpopular over its decision to slash the size of the public sector this close to a general election, constitutionally due by next September.

Daryl Vaz, the minsiter responsible for information, said if the cuts and other tough decisions the Government has had to take result in its demise, it was a price they were willing to pay for doing what's good for the country. He noted, however, that it would be a big hurdle to navigate the maze of negatives and explain the rationale to the populace.

"A number of them have been implemented at great political cost and pain to the Jamaican people," Vaz told journalists at Wednesday's weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston.

While admitting that the decision was not the most popular to make at a time so close to a general election, Vaz said the public relations arm of the Government would have to be separated from that of the party.

"There (are) a number of successes that the government, which obviously the party is a part of, has had and therefore with an election on the horizon, we will have to make sure to separate the government arm of information and the party advertising and public relations information," said Vaz.

He argued further that Government was committed to looking at these policy decisions and to communicating them as best as possible through the government information arm and the media.
"In terms of the popularity and political aspect of it, the party will have to look at non-traditional sources to get their messages out," Vaz explained.
He said too often tough decisions were abandoned because of fear of losing popularity so close to an election year.

"We have been on this road so many times going in the right direction, but when the election came nearer we abandon it, but he (the Prime Minister) has made a commitment that this time we cannot afford to abandon it," Vaz said.

He reiterated that the path was the right one for Jamaica.
"We are going to do everything in our power to educate and promote the policies and successes of this government and leave the electorate to decide when the time comes for election," he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced that some 10,000 public sector jobs would be lost over the next five years, resulting in savings of $40 billion to $50 billion for the country as well as an improved and more efficient civil service.