- Samuda fires back at Phillips’ claim of JLP neglect
Published:Saturday | March 2, 2019 | 12:00 AM
Government senator Matthew Samuda has fired back at the People’s National Party (PNP) over accusations that the Andrew Holness administration is neglecting East Portland.
PNP President Dr Peter Phillips, speaking at a wake for slain Member of Parliament Dr Lynvale Bloomfield two weekends ago, bemoaned that the late politician had been begging for resources to better the lives of his constituents but none was forthcoming from the Andrew Holness-led administration.
Damion Crawford, who was earlier this week confirmed as the PNP’s candidate for the March 25 polls, also made similar comments last week.
“The Government has committed US$24 million for roadworks in East Portland, which were never done while we had a candidate and an MP,” Crawford said.
But in a rebuttal at a Jamaica Labour Party rally to drum up support for the party’s pick for the March 25 by-election, Samuda said Phillips himself had failed the constituency when he had various positions in Government, including finance minister.
“They have done the people of East Portland a disservice,” Samuda told Labourites last night. “He (Phillips) failed to acknowledge that while he was minister of finance, he gave nothing to Portland,” Samuda charged.
The senator urged constituents to vote for Vaz, saying she could deliver for them under the leadership of Prime Minister Holness.
“When the election is called, I am asking you to vote for Action Ann,” he pleaded just over an hour before the prime minister announced the election date.