PNP says JLP leader uninspiring, offered nothing new after conference speech

The People’s National Party (PNP) says it is grossly disappointed with today's presentation by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader and prime minister, Andrew Holness.

The PNP said it was disappointed because Holness, who was speaking at the JLP’s 75th annual conference at the National Arena, offered no new policies or programmes to deal with the massive inequities arising from the continuing economic adjustment in the economy.   

"The speech by Prime Minister Holness was a restatement of projects, programmes and initiatives started by the previous PNP administrations, including the road improvement programme and housing for the vulnerable, among others," the PNP said in a statement issued by General Secretary Julian Robinson following Holness' address.

"Noticeably absent from his presentation were any updates to the St Thomas highway programme and the development of old Goodyear factory into a state-of-the-art town centre, which were promises already made to the people of St Thomas," the Opposition party added.

The PNP said the JLP leader speech also ignored the plight of the farmers, particularly those in sugar and coffee, who are facing challenges but received no indication from him that their situation is even being heard.

According to the PNP, this was symptomatic of the off-hand way in which the government has treated several sectors and groups in the economy who are facing dislocation, lay-offs and contract work issues.

"The JLP leader’s proposed solution to ending squatting, for example, lacks analysis and relies on already failed approaches.  It does not take into consideration the historic nature of the squatting phenomenon which require radical rethinking and approach to solve this issue which has been part of the Jamaican history. The forced removal of squatters such as the most recent example in the Constant Spring area to facilitate road development should not be tolerated," the Opposition party continued.

And the PNP said while it welcomed the initiative for low-income housing, the $500 million earmarked is inadequate to solve "this major problem"as it requires some 100,000 units.

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