CMC:

Bruce Golding, who will be sworn in as Prime Minister next Tuesday, has pointed to what he says are looming budgetary problems facing Jamaica, which were not disclosed by the outgoing People's National Party (PNP) administration which held power for 18 years.

Golding told the Caribbean Media Corporation Friday that he had become aware of some of the problems through a series of meetings with key government technocrats.

"Already, I have got indications that there are things that were not publicly known about that represent major and immediate challenges that will have to be dealt with," Golding said during an interview at the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) headquarters in St. Andrew.

"I have been in touch with some of the critical functionaries within the government bureaucracy and it's not going to be smooth sailing."

Golding made the disclosure ahead of a meeting Friday with Governor of the Bank of Jamaica Derrick Latibeaudiere.

key promises not affected

The JLP leader refused to disclose the specific problems which he had discovered, but insisted that they would not affect the key promises on which the party had campaigned, such as the abolition of tuition fees up to the high-school level, and free health care for all Jamaicans.

According to Golding, the education plan will take effect with the start of the new school year tomorrow, while the health initiative kicks in with the new financial year next April.

"The challenges I have been made aware of have to do with slippages in our fiscal management; let me put it with no greater particularity than that. I will have to have further discussions with the persons who are responsible for the fiscal programme to see how manageable those difficulties are.

"What I have been advised of is that there are commitments that have to be met that were not provided for in the budget and its something we are going to have to look at seriously," Golding added.