But before it does that, the indefatigable PUP machine must have its say. Proving that its reaction time is at hair-trigger election-ready standards, literally within seconds of the UDP closing its press conference the PUP's Public Relations Spokesperson Yasser Musa, who unlike his Deputy, Bill Lindo has not been put in the political penalty box (at least not yet) called to say that the Minister of Information and the Party's Co-Deputy Leader Godfrey Smith is ready with a response to the UDP plan. Smith told us that the PUP wrote the book on reform and so far, Barrow has only written a brochure.
Godfrey Smith, PUP Deputy Leader
"The entire press conference called today by the United Democratic Party and the Leader of the Opposition I would describe as an anxiety reaction stemming from deep seated insecurity about the leadership of the United Democratic Party and the viability of the United Democratic Party itself as a party capable of contesting and winning elections."
Jules Vasquez,
The UDP has said that the reforms undertaken by the Musa Administration have been unconvincing and in fact the evidence suggests that those social partners who have spoken are indeed unconvinced because they keep clamoring for reform. The UDP says it will embark on a process of genuine people based reform. How do you respond?
Godfrey Smith,
"Obviously that statement has got to be described as rubbish Jules. The difference with what he is doing and what we did as an Opposition, you will recall, we actually put out substantial policy papers that may floated through people's assemblies, I believe there were some 13 of them. What he has done based on the little brochure you've shown me is to produce a little glossy slip of paper with nice sounding rhetoric and a speech in it and just in a very superficial way touching on what those reforms will be. We have been in the seat of government and we have shown how reforms ought to be brought up."
Jules Vasquez,
However it might be argued that the social partners are unconvinced because under the aegis of reform which the PUP has engendered in its governmental thrust, in fact some of the most egregious acts of fiscal recklessness have occurred and I don't have to list them. If fact the reform, it can be argued, was used as a hoodwink to carry out some of the most reckless of fiscal indiscipline. How would you respond to that?
Godfrey Smith,
"I would say that to suggest that betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship between political reform and having good government practices and where institutions step out of line. You can have the most robust, the most glorious, the most forward thinking set of laws but that does not mean that loans may not be given in breach of rules."
