Don't fall for empty promises, Ferguson urges Portland comrades

On a day when controversial figure Benny White was elected unopposed as chairman of the People's National Party (PNP's) Fellowship division in East Portland, a senior member of the Parliamentary Opposition told comrades not to be swayed by meaningless political promises. 

"We have to be careful that we are not deceived by handouts and empty promises," said Dr Fenton Ferguson, a PNP vice president.

"Times are tough and these are hard times, but we have to hold our head high and stand firm for what we believe in. United we stand, but divided we fall. Yes there are repeated scandals plaguing the government of the day, but I must remind you that scandals will not get us into Jamaica House," he said.

Ferguson’s warning came during a divisional conference Wednesday night at Windsor school in the Rio Grande Valley where White, who lost to Irvin 'Louis' Brown of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the 2016 local government elections, was returned as caretaker for the Fellowship division.

Earlier, Valerie Neita Robertson, the PNP standard bearer for West Portland declared that she is on a mission to wrestle that constituency from the JLP, which has been held since 2007 by Daryl Vaz.

Neita Robertson noted that there is a lot of work to be done as she attempts to break the vase (Vaz).

"I need you and when I call for help, I want you to come back me up," she told the gathering.

"I have some plans for West Portland but it seems to me that victimisation is the new political tool of the JLP. Victimisation is damaging the people of this country. Everybody of this country is a citizen and the PNP does not practice victimisation. In West Portland, when work is being given out they (comrades) get nothing. But I take off my hat to the comrades as they have held their own. We must find policies to uplift the young and work must be made available. The vase (Vaz) carry flower, but we carry power," she said.

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