Holness stresses realism over political pledges in Free Town rally
Published:Saturday | February 17, 2024 | 12:08 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
In a rousing address to Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters in Free Town, St Catherine, Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasised a commitment to realistic promises, cautioning against the allure of overreaching political pledges.
Addressing a crowd of fervent party loyalists on Thursday night, the JLP leader underscored the importance of delivering on commitments, citing a pragmatic approach honed through years of political experience.
“We are now in an election cycle, and in elections, politicians go around and do two things and I am speaking as a politician, but I have never done these things – they come and they promise you so and so and the promises they made sometimes exceed their capabilities,” asserted Holness, highlighting the potential disillusionment caused by unfulfilled promises.
“What you really want is what you can’t do. You can’t provide your own water, and you can’t provide your own roads. That’s what you want from Government, and for the first time, your Government is now in a position to deliver,” Holness declared.
He urged voters to scrutinise candidates based on past performance rather than succumb to grandiose assurances.
Despite advocating for prudence in political commitments, Holness acknowledged the persistent challenges faced by the communities in St Catherine North Eastern, such as chronic water shortages and dilapidated road infrastructure.
Offering a glimpse into his administration’s priorities, he assured residents of the Mount Industry division of forthcoming improvements, buoyed by a growing economy. However, he tempered expectations, acknowledging the bureaucratic hurdles, inherent in project implementation, urging residents to be patient as the division will benefit from an improved economy.
The Mount Industry division was last held by the People’s National Party’s Roogae Kirlew, who is poised for an interesting electoral battle on February 26 with Correl Davis, a recent defector from the opposition party. Davis’ defection followed a series of political manoeuvres, including the crossover of former Troja division councillor William Cytall to the PNP in 2022.