'Same old 'bruk down' PNP bus' - Shaw describes Phillips as part of Ja's economic 'wrecking crew'
Published:Sunday | March 26, 2017 | 12:00 AMJason Cross
Labelling yesterday's long-awaited transition of leadership within the People's National Party (PNP) as the "same old bruk-down PNP bus, (only with a) different driver", Finance and Public Service Minister Audley Shaw vibrantly attempted to cement in the minds of party supporters information on what he described as the dismal track record of the opposition party.
Shaw delivered the main address at the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Area Council One meeting at the Olympic Gardens Civic Centre in St Andrew, where he attempted to deflect attention from Dr Peter Phillips's crowning as president of the PNP.
He constantly accused the PNP throughout his speech of wrecking the Jamaican economy during its extended reign between 1989 and 2007 and then from 2011 to 2016.
DAMAGED COUNTRY
"One of the members of the wrecking crew from 1989, a him a get crowned as leader of the PNP today! Same old bruk-down bus, different driver. Economic disaster of the PNP came in 1989, and that is when Peter Phillips entered politics. He joined the PNP, and for 18 years under Michael Manley, P.J. Patterson, and Portia Simpson Miller, the country barely averaged in 18 years one per cent growth per year. Dem run the country down into the ground!" Shaw stressed.
He then proceeded to boast of what he described as the JLP's ability to steady the Jamaican economy as opposed to the PNP's focus of passing International Monetary Fund (IMF) tests.
"Twenty-two years out of 27, the PNP has been in charge of this country. We have been for only five years. When we took charge, the worst global economy hit Jamaica (2008). The Labour Party steady the ship, and by time 2011 came around, we were able to grow the economy by almost two per cent," said Shaw.
"The only thing the man we are crowning today can claim is that him pass IMF test but failed the people's test. One year in power, and we have grown the economy by twice the amount they grew it in their last year. They were at 0.8 per cent. We were at 1.6 per cent in 2016. We are heading to achieve five per cent growth in four years," he added.
JLP Member of Parliament for West Portland Daryl Vaz, shortly before Shaw took the stage, called Phillips a PNP reject.
"Today, we know Peter Phillips takes over the People's National Party. We must note that he was rejected by the delegates twice prior to this, and a group within the PNP feels sorry for him and say its his time now and let him in without a challenge. Was it a plan or a smooth transition? Don't let them fool you," said. Vaz.