HE OFFERED no excuses and no pussy-footing. He just confessed. "I concede that we have been less assertive than we should have been," Prime Minister Golding said while responding to questions about Parliament's tardy legislative agenda.

The Order Paper of the House of Representatives has been saturated with motions, bills and questions, many of which were brought over from the previous term. Golding's government has also failed to budge on some campaign promises it made heading into the 2007 general election.

Many of these promises, require legislative framework; however, they are yet to be brought to Parliament.

Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum on Tuesday, Golding said his administration could have done better in getting legislation through Parliament.

"There is no use in giving excuses ... . Some of it is that we were overtaken by other urgent issues of one sort or another. The fact is that we have to be able to deal with urgency on different fronts at the same time," Golding said.

The prime minister has said that as of September, all MPs could be asked to do legislative work three days per week, up from the one day they now sit.

"You are going to see a much more active legislation session up to Christmas, and then up to the end of the fiscal year ... . Part of our challenge is going to be able to sustain the level of participation in Parliament," the prime minister said.

Bruce's words

IN HIS two years as prime minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding has been colourful and forceful with words. Today, we share with you some of the comments of Prime Minister Golding, which have earned him kudos, or have landed him in hot water.

Acceptance speech, September 3, 2007

We make a mistake if we believe that a party becoming government, no matter how large its majority, is going to be able to take this country forward as fast as this country needs to go, if it does so on its own steam without the cooperation of all the people of Jamaica. To the extent that the People's National Party represents a significant body of support in the country, it is important in going forward for there to be a serious programme, a new paradigm of constructive engagement ... . We can't row the boat of the nation with only one set of people doing the rowing.

Inaugural address, September 11, 2007

The task before me is enormous. But the Lord is the strength of my life. Of nothing shall I be afraid ... I want to sit down with you, Portia. Let's talk about Jamaica. Let's talk about a dream that I believe we share for Jamaica, whose people are at peace with each other, where equality and justice reign supreme.

The People's National Party suffers from a kind of intellectual depravity ... . It seems as if termites have infested their brains. November 2007.

Speaking at the Jamaica Labour Party's annual conference at the National Arena, where he was responding to claims from the PNP that his administration was not effectively managing the effects of a high food prices and a pending global economic meltdown.

Jamaica Labour Party Divisional Conference in West Portland, April 6, 2008

If you have dipped your hands into taxpayers' money, you will be caught; if the money is already lodged to an account, you will be caught ... . You can run, but you cannot hide, and rest assured that anyone who has done so illegally will be exposed.

I'm not going to allow anybody to sit in Parliament who was rejected by the people at the polls purely on the basis of some legal or constitutional technicality. - April 2008

This statement came as the Supreme Court considered the election petition case against Daryl Vaz, brought by Abe Dabdoub. Some detractors charged that it was an attempt to influence the outcome of the case.

Sure they can be in the Cabinet; not mine. - May 2008

The prime minister was being interviewed by journalist Stephen Sackur on the British Broadcasting Corporation Television's discussion show, 'Hardtalk'. He was responding to whether he would allow homosexuals in a Cabinet he led.

We are not going to allow schools to find some other ways of extorting - I use strong words. July 2008

Speaking in Parliament, Golding likened the approach of some school administrators to extortion.

It will be a long time before those on that side can regain the moral authority to accuse anyone of corruption. - November 16, 2008.

The Opposition PNP had accused Golding's government of being corrupt in the lease of lands to the Hydel Group of Schools, operated by government Senator Hyacinth Bennett.

National Broadcast, April 22, 2009

The country is going through tough times - tough times for you and tough times for the Government. All of us have to help the country through this crisis so that we can position ourselves for recovery after it has passed.

Jamaica Labour Party's 65th Annual Conference, November 2008

I am not here to plead with the criminals. These vicious, dog-hearted murderers and rapists have two things in common: first of all, they are hard of hearing, and second, they need to be caught, taken out of the society, and severely punished.

This administration will not be bullied ... . this Government is not going to be cowered, is not going to be yielding, and is not going to be genuflecting simply because people believe they have a kind of power that can hold the country to ransom. May 9, 2009

Responding to threats of protest action by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and workers at the National Water Commission.