Opposition wants details of proposed prison transfer deal with UK

The Parliamentary Opposition is insisting on the release of  details of  the proposed prisoner transfer deal between Jamaica and Britain.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Andrew Holness called for the National Security Minister to provide clarification.

Holness questioned the logic of  British Prime Minister David Cameron traveling to Jamaica for an incomplete deal.

"I can't see that the Prime Minister of the UK is going to come to Jamaica and make an announcement, only to be told by the Minister of National Security that it is premature, and worse than that  - that the government is not yet decided and could very well say no. So, the Minister needs to come clean to the public and say whether or not Jamaica is committed to this deal, yes or no," Holness said. 

The Opposition Leader also claimed that there was a disconnect between information provided by the Government of Jamaica and the British media.

He also raised concern about the long term cost to Jamaican taxpayers to maintain the new prison.

"The cost to the government is the recurrent cost. So it is one thing to agree to a prison transfer agreement; it is another thing to absorb 60 per cent of the cost of building the prison  - even if you were to find creative ways of doing it," he said.