#JLPConference| Labourites want leader to address crime, economy and road crashes

Romario Scott, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)  supporters say they will be listening keenly to Andrew Holness with the expectation that he will address some of their pressing issues.
 
The majority of those supporters who spoke with The Gleaner news team expressed concern about the heinous and casual nature of the recent killings across the country, and have said JLP Leader and Prime Minister Andrew Holness should raise the matter in his keynote address. 
 
“The number one thing that me want to prime minister fi talk ‘bout is the amount of woman and children [who are] being killed. We need a strategy for that, because too [many] a go down inna hole and when you check it out, it’s over foolishness.
 
“A next thing him fi talk ‘bout is work fi young people dem. We want more jobs and not just fi Kingston, Portland and St Thomas need a little touch of it, too,” 51-year-old Millicent Graham told The Gleaner at the JLP’s 75th anniversary conference now under way at the National Arena in St Andrew. 
 
Another supporter, who did not want to be identified by name, said while he appreciated news that the murder rate is trending down in comparison to last year, the Holness administration should make greater effort to wipe out the criminals.
 
“Me hear dem she murder gone down and that’s good news. But me nah hear the criminals a dead. You have to get rid of the criminals so people can live in peace and him must tell the country how we going to get rid of them,” the JLP supporter said. 
 
Figures released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force up to November 3 showed the murder rate declining 21 per cent, when compared to the corresponding period last year.
 
“Well, I would want to hear some more about the economy and how we can get it up to the 4 and 5 per cent growth range by using ganja. So if the prime minister even start the conversation here at conference today, I would be satisfied,” Errol Smith, a member of the party’s young affiliate Generation 2000, said. 
 
The young Labourite also mentioned that Holness, being the chairman of the National Road Safety Council, should appeal to drivers to curb “the recklessness on the roadways, especially coming up on the Christmas season”.
 
So far, in the first 17 days of November, there have been 28 deaths on the roadways resulting from motor vehicle crashes. 
 
Those figures have helped to push the number of motor vehicle fatalities beyond 300 so far this year.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.