Holness: No general election on my mind
PM clarifies recent statement as party kicks off campaign for local polls
Published:Tuesday | September 12, 2023 | 12:07 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
Everald Warmington switched on the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Area Council Two local government election machinery with the long-delayed polls due in the next five months.
“We in Area Council Two decided that tonight, we will launch our parish council election campaign in St Mary, Portland, St Thomas, and St Catherine,” the area council chairman said to loud cheers from thousands of party faithful gathered at a gospel concert he hosted in Old Harbour, St Catherine.
“And I want to encourage the other area councils to get out there and start the ball rolling,” he added.
Speaker after speaker signalled their readiness for the local government elections, with St Thomas Western Member of Parliament James Robertson trying to goad Prime Minister Andrew Holness to announce the date for the polls.
Holness, however, did not take the bait but noted that some speakers, including party Chairman Robert Montague and St Catherine Central MP Olivia Grange, had tried to explain his recent comments about not focusing on elections at this time.
“I don’t know why the speakers before me feel the need to explain what I said because you get the message already, and this is why you are here in such record numbers,” Holness said as party supporters cheered.
He backed up his recent comments by explaining that calling the general election before it is constitutionally due would distract the Government from fulfilling its mandate.
He highlighted programmes such as housing; the May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000, which is to be opened on Thursday; and a part of the St Thomas leg of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project also almost ready for opening. He also noted progress in the health sector with the renovation of the Cornwall Regional Hospital almost complete and the construction of a new adolescent hospital nearby. The upgrading of health centres islandwide and plans for modernising the Spanish Hospital were also touted.
“As your prime minister, I can’t make it all about power. As your prime minister, it has to be about fulfilling your needs. [General] election not due until 2025 ... but there are some people who want to bring the date forward,” Holness noted.
“So our strategy is a simple one: when elections are due, we will have them as they are due. We are not going to redirect our energies and resources away from your business,” he added. “So if election come, mek it come. We ready. By the way, a we have fi call it, so we nuh have no worry about that. What we are making sure is that when you have to cast your vote, you know you are voting for something that is improving your lives,” Holness said.