Jamaica PM Names February 25 As General Election Day

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – On Sunday, Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, named February 25 as the date for general elections in Jamaica.

Addressing a mass meeting of supporters of the governing People’s National Party (PNP), Simpson-Miller said, Nomination Day will be on Tuesday, February 9 and Parliament will be dissolved on Friday, February 5.

Simpson Miller will face a challenge from the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), led by former Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

To loud cheers from thousands of supporters, clad in orange, the colour of the 78-year-old party, Simpson Miller said, she would be answering the long awaited call – that of announcing the date for a general election.

“Tonight, I will put some people out of their misery. Tonight I will answer your call. The time has come to sound the trumpet….I want to speak with you who are in Half Way Tree in your thousands of thousands.

“They have been calling for elections for a long time, they will get a whipping at the polls.”

During the mass rally, held in Half Way Tree, the capital of the parish of St. Andrew, Simpson Miller listed the achievements of her administration.

“We have made great strikes, we are building a foundation for first world economic growth. A Jamaica of safety, security, progress and development for all.”

“Later this year, new manufacturing activities will create thousands of jobs. The PNP government is assisting micro, small and medium-sized businesses. Comrades, Jamaica is now ranked as the best place in the Caribbean to do business…. This is as a result of laws put in place to encourage business…”

“As we go for growth and economic stability, we are ensuring that the social needs of our people are met. We have invested millions of dollars to protect vulnerable families.”

Concerning education, she said, her administration has invested millions of dollars in education, “thousands of new classroom spaces have been built throughout the country. We are stepping up the progress…..”

In the area of housing she said, thousands of houses have been built. We have stepped up the progress in providing thousands of titles to people. We have provided work, income and vital community infrastructure .

In agriculture she said, sugar workers have been provided with houses, free of cost.

The reform of the marijuana (ganja) laws means that the future of our people, particularly our young men, will not be blighted for “possession of a ganja spliff”.

She said, despite challenges, the party has made progress in health; “life saving equipment has been installed, there are more ambulances, free medication.”

On the issue of the Zika virus, the PM said, the confirmation is not a cause for alarm “But it must give us greater urgency to deal with the situation. I am calling on everyone to get involved, to limit its impact on the people. We must continue to clean up our surroundings …we are spending millions of dollars to deal with the Zika virus threat.”

In a speech, punctuated with the traditional party songs as well as popular tunes, Simpson Miller also addressed those who have criticised her leadership style.

“It is not my style to be talking, talking, talking; my style is to be working, working, working,” she said.

Simpson-Miller, who is also the  party president, also called for peace during the campaign period.

“We must respect each other. When there is respect, there will be less domestic violence and lewd behaviour; when there is respect our children will not be raped, abused and murdered. I want everyone to listen carefully to me – I don’t want to hear of any disrespect or violence in this election campaign. I am committed to a peaceful campaign….the PNP is committed to a peaceful campaign. We are one Jamaica and, even if you are provoked, walk away peacefully….during and after the election, we must continue as one Jamaica.”

She told the crowd, that progress will continue with the People’s National Party: “I am confident that the people of Jamaica will choose to stay with the People’s National Party, Jamaica’s best choice. They will reaffirm the mandate to step up the progress.”

“If it is a mountain we have climbed it …. If it is a river we have crossed it …. Now that we are calling it, we will win it!” she told supporters.

In the last general election, the ruling People’s National Party won 42 of the 63 seats, with the remaining going to the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).