The Gleaner today kicks off a five-day vox-pop series eliciting the views of a Jamaican in each parish on the issue of the day as we continue to grade the Golding government. In turning the spotlight on the economy, we asked: Do you think the Government has demonstrated that it is serious about stimulating the economy as it promised during the campaign before the general election?

O. Dave Allen, Civic leader

ST JAMES

I think that the Government has failed miserably in terms of demonstrating its capacity to address the issues facing the nation at this time. Not only based upon the expectations but based upon the new challenges that they found when they came into office. They have failed to demonstrate their capacity to articulate the big vision that will grow the economy and this is as a result of the absence, it would seem, of talent within the ministries of Finance, Technology, Industry and Commerce. But agriculture seems to be the bright spot.

Carla Bingham-Ledgister

Vice-president, Trelawny Parish Development Committee

TRELAWNY

I believe the policies and programmes that they have in place are the best at this time, but my problem is that they do not seek citizen buy-in into what they are doing. Most of the times, the answers that they have to the situation that face us are the same ones that we would have suggested, but we do not feel a part of the process most of the time and that is not very good.

James Walsh

Community college principal

ST Ann

I can't speak to their seriousness or not. What I know is that they have not been able to put in place the kind of policies or the programmes to effect the stimulation that is desired. It's not simply a matter of will, but the circumstances and the ability to craft the measures. So I won't judge their will, what I will say is that they have not been able to do it nor have they brought in place measures that could bring this about.

Alec Dehany

Businessman

PORTLAND

I have to say that I am not quite sure about that but there may be some mitigating circumstances. The Government had been out of power for a long while and they weren't quite sure what money was in the accounts but they offered quite a bit of free things, but they should have got the facts first before they made the offer. Then the world economic problems began just as they went into office.

Appollionia Davidson

Teacher

ST THOMAS

I do not believe the Golding government is doing all they said they would have done to stimulate the economy. Initially, they had said they would have provided jobs and so on but from what I am seeing, it's just job losses. I know the recession is a factor but I don't really think they are sitting down and trying to find solutions to the problems as they said they would have done.

Everet Hyatt

Marketing executive

ST ANDREW

I think with the current challenge that the Government is facing right now, there is hardly anything that they could be doing differently. But what I think the Government needs to do is to commu-nicate better with the people of Jamaica and let them understand that everybody needs to cooperate.

Audrey Morrison

Teacher

KINGSTON

I don't think they are serious about stimulating the economy and my reason for thinking so is because before the election, the Government promised that it would go to the grass roots and it has not done so to this point. I think many of the small persons who have ideas and who are struggling to put their solutions forward are being overlooked.

Canon Hartley Perrin

Petersfield district of Anglican Churches

WESTMORELAND

I would say that it has tried but I don't know that it has demonstrated. But I think the Government has found itself in a very difficult and challenging period of time. I don't have the solution except to say it should be square and level with the people. It is the time for the Jamaican family to come together. I am always appalled to know that we are fighting against each other and not the common problem of the economy and that is my problem with the Jamaica Labour Party government at this time.

Maureen Williams

Financial adviser

ST CATHERINE

I'm thinking that they are just feeling around. I don't know if it's because they have not been in office for a long time. But I have not seen anything concrete that they are doing. I am a little disturbed with the finance ministry in terms of the appointments that they have made.

William Shagoury

Businessman, civic leader

CLARENDON

I think the Government would want to stimulate the economy. I think they have all the intentions to do it but whether or not they have the resources at this time with the collapse of the world economy and more so in Jamaica is another story. Now, they need to go and find other ways and methods of stimulating the economy with new ideas and new thinking.

Archibald Edwards

Hospitality partner, former social Development officer

HANOVER

I believe that I have seen efforts made, but I strongly believe that these have been challenged by the harsh realities of the global economy. I believe that there should now be more attention focusing on internal resources, such as the training of our young people so they can take advantage of opportunities because this is very important for growth and development.

Anthony 'Turn' Ewen

Businessman

ST ELIZABETH

I don't think they are very serious. You listen to the promises and from the promises, trust me, we had high hopes, but believe me the hopes have been dashed since. They spoke about jobs, jobs, jobs and raising people's pay and it's just the opposite. Right now, business people are in a lot of problems. We just can't cope at all.

Josephine Lynch

Teacher

St MARY

I don't think the Government has demonstrated seriousness. Too many people are still out of jobs, there's no stability and wherever you go, people are expressing their regret. They thought they would have got more but it has not come true yet. To be honest, I don't know if it is in the pipeline.

Calvin Lyn

Justice of the peace Businessman

MANCHESTER

The constraints are there because of the global situation but the seriousness is there because of the plans. In fact, I think any well-intentioned government would want to honour its commitment. So far, I think they are doing the best they can apart from some disappointments in some areas. But if you don't have the finances, you can't do as you would like to.

I believe that we can construct a social and economic ladder that enables the poor and the ignored to climb their way out of poverty.

- Bruce Golding at his swearing-in ceremony, King's House, September 11, 2007.

IN HIS OWN WORDS