Mon | Dec 23, 2024

‘JLP is not a cult’

Holness argues Labourites’ high standards allow for criticisms, accountability

Published:Monday | June 26, 2023 | 1:00 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness making his presentation at the JLP Constituency Conference for South East Clarendon held at the Vere Technical High School on Sunday.
Nathaniel Stewart
Prime Minister Andrew Holness making his presentation at the JLP Constituency Conference for South East Clarendon held at the Vere Technical High School on Sunday.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness is greeted by supporters as he arrives at Vere Technical High School for the JLP Constituency Conference for South East Clarendon.
Nathaniel Stewart
Prime Minister Andrew Holness is greeted by supporters as he arrives at Vere Technical High School for the JLP Constituency Conference for South East Clarendon.
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness has charged that the outrage accompanying the recently announced salary increases for members of the political directorate has stemmed from the standard at which the electorate holds the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Holness, addressing party faithful during the Clarendon South Eastern constituency conference, held at Vere Technical in the parish Sunday evening, took the opportunity to address some of the concerns that have left tongues wagging across the island in recent weeks.

“I know many Labourites were upset about the salary increases, because the [Jamaica] Labour Party represents the social conscience of Jamaica,” said Holness.

“The Jamaica Labour Party is not a party of sycophants, it is not a cult. We are the political anchor of the democracy of Jamaica,” said Holness as he declared that the JLP was serious about accountability.

Referencing the recent controversies around the salary increases for public sector workers, Holness noted that he was cognisant of some of the backlash.

“I’m not saying what you got is what you deserve. If I could pay teachers more, I would pay teachers more. If I could pay the policemen more, I would pay them more,” said Holness, citing his own longstanding personal interest as he had promised teachers an 80 per cent increase when he was Minister of Education in 2008.

“The first time the police got any significant increase, after many, many years, it was [under] the Jamaica Labour Party,” said Holness.

Alluding to the JLP administration as Jamaica’s hope and saving grace, Holness said: “This is a different Jamaica. This is not the same Jamaica the PNP left. We have changed Jamaica, [and] the fundamentals of Jamaica.”

The prime minister at the same time criticised the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP,) asserting that it had long stifled the hopes of and progress for the Jamaican people.

“People are now saying to me ‘Thank you, prime minister. I start build my house, I pay down on a house. I pay down on mi car’. Many Jamaicans are finding themselves in a much better [position],” he said.

According to Holness, the JLP’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, versus the PNP’s handling of Chikungunya (Chik-V) wass also proof of his party’s prowess in governance.