Building Jamaica for 76th Anniversary

The theme for this year's Jamaica Labour Party Conference was 'Building Jamaica' as they celebrate 76 years of existence. It was held at the National Arena in Kingston and saw thousands of ‘labourite’ supporters in their green colours packed on the inside and outside.

The theme was quite befitting as for the past three years and nine months that JLP has been in government, there have been infrastructural developments across the island, mainly in the Kingston region; there has been an increase in PATH (Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education) funds and the number of days for the provision of lunches have moved to five; there has also been a reduction in unemployed persons from 185,000 to 105,000.

At the Conference, they welcomed foreigners such as the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell; and St. Kitts Chairman of the People’s Action Movement, Jonel Powell. Conference Chairman, Desmond McKenzie, manoeuvred the proceedings for the day and introduced JLP General Secretary, Dr. Horace Chang; JLP Chairman, Robert ‘Bobby’ Montague among others to the podium.

The Conference was anticipated to be the last one before the party leader, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness called an election for 2020/2021 as the general election is constitutionally due in 2021.

The Jamaica Labour Party's flyer for the 76th annual conference

However, the Chairman for JLP and Member of Parliament for Western St. Mary, Robert Montague, emphasized that they are in no haste to call elections. He said that there were caretakers to be installed and more work to be done on the ground. “We are not yet there and the process is not finished, we cyaa call election yet,” he said at the National Arena to supporters.

He even took jabs at Opposition Leader, Dr. Peter Phillips that he should shuffle his Shadow Cabinet and himself out of the party because the Jamaican people cannot trust him. He said that they will not be rushed into calling an election again.

Montague and Chang said that the JLP is doing work and that “one good term deserves another (term).” This reference was being made because back in 2011, Holness, the 39-year-old JLP leader, who was serving as prime minister for a mere two months, having been sworn in on October 23 after Bruce Golding stepped down, was wiped out by then Leader of the People’s National Party, Portia Simpson Miller.

This led to the nickname of the first ‘one-term Government’ since Independence. Therefore, they were reiterating the call for another term instead of being another one-term. Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding was present as well and said that while the call from Holness was upcoming and there was no specific date, it cannot be “too long…long”

Looking at the history of JLP and its battle with the PNP (People's National Party), it would not be recommended that they call the election until a number of seats have been settled, for example, North Central Clarendon. As Montague rightfully stated, caretakers needed to be installed or else a sneak attack would pounce on them and it would be 2011 all over again.

Prime Minister Holness finally arrived in his ‘Bro Gad’ cap and ‘Builder’ sweater to move the crowd to their feet. He thanked the US government, the European Union and China for their continued partnership with Jamaica.

He listed a few upcoming activities and programme for next year such as the intervention strategy for which they will be receiving 20 million euros to target 20 crime-riddled communities. An increase in the number of communities, to four, under the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs). There will be a movement to own Brand Jamaica. The government will join with the private sector to conduct a study and approve funds to own intellectual property, so as to protect it.

Holness also mentioned that there will be a set of plans to address road violations through the installation of cameras at every stoplight, in rural and urban townships. There will be zero tolerance areas, and critical public spaces for example Half-Way-Tree. In February 2020, a new education transformation programme will be implemented. This was a result of his visit to China and they have decided to build three new STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) schools; six new schools will be developed over three years.

Holness' speech was said to be widely anticipated for a number of reasons - to announce or give an idea as to when elections would be called, boast the party's achievements since taking reign and plans for the future.

The speech seemed to not live up to its expectations, it was vague and elusive, not terrible but definitely not the greatest. He did not announce the suspected date for election nor did he adequately address the crime situation. He clearly stated that SOEs and ZOSOs were not long-term plans but what then are the short-term plans?

We have heard and left once again wondering what is next...