PRESIDENT OF the National Democratic Movement (NDM) Bruce Golding has called on the Government to change its economic model to put the country on a growth path.

"The model is wrong. It has left a trail of broken dreams and shattered lives," Mr. Golding said on Monday at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, where the NDM gave its response to the 1999-2000 budget.

Mr. Golding said after being in office for ten years, the Government under P.J. Patterson's leadership was still "groping in the dark", having achieved no economic growth during the period. He said the Government had slapped an excessive tax package on the people to support its failing economic model.

Mr. Golding said the Government had become arrogant and disconnected from the people. He said this week's demonstrations were not only in response to the increase taxes on gasolene.

"That is the spark that got it all going, but I have been saying for some time...that the landscape of Jamaica was saturated with discontent, and if the people continue to be treated with the contempts with which this administration has treated them, that eventually the people's voice would be heard, and the people's physical presence would be felt," he said.