Bunting denies 'sweetheart deal' Says Contractor General's report does not support defamatory allegations.

The People's National Party (PNP) was last night placed on election alert by its president, Portia Simpson Miller, who suggested that the Sunday Gleaner bombshell, revealing that the Jamaican Government had, in fact, been in bed with a United States law firm, might force the prime minister to quit. Speaking at a constituency conference for South West Clarendon at Kemps Hill High School, Simpson Miller said Prime Minister Bruce Golding was too compromised to remain in office. "Be prepared. Be on standby and listen for the sound of the trumpet," said the PNP president, drawing on biblical imagery. "Wrong is wrong. I say to the prime minister tonight, enough is enough!"

Peter Bunting, opposition spokesman on national security and general secretary of the PNP, argued there was no correlation between the reduction of murders and the state of emergency. "The primary reason for the reduction in crime has been the operation against the criminal organisation headquartered in Tivoli Gardens and subsequent apprehension and extradition of its alleged leader," Bunting said. That alleged leader is Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is believed to run the Shower Posse and is now facing drug and weapons-smuggling charges in the United States.

Contractor General overzealous, scaring off public servants, say political parties

Stalwart politician and former government minister dies at 75.

EDITH Allwood-Anderson, head of the Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ), on Saturday lauded nurses for "outstanding performance" of duties during the West Kingston unrest in May, which claimed the lives of more than 70 persons.

PNP sides with former Commissioner Lewin on that Dudus was tipped off on extradition

PNP's Integrity Commission gets going

Support for the island's two major political parties has dwindled down to the bare bones, with mainly hard-core supporters expressing any interest in voting if an election is called now. But that has left the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) in pole position, where it could possibly capture almost 40 seats to the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) 20 if a general election were called.

Attorney-at-law Jacqueline Samuels-Brown has vigorously criticised the proposed anti-crime bills before Parliament, arguing that some provisions - if passed - would jeopardise fundamental rights and freedoms.