The governing Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, has declared it will take nothing for granted as it begins to make its case for a third term at the helm of the country.
The declaration comes amid criticism that it was forced to document what it says are its achievements amid allegations Jamaicans are not feeling the positive effects of the government’s term in office.
Speaking at a media briefing in St. Andrew on Wednesday, the party’s campaign chairman, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says it intends to push back against the noise and misinformation about its record in government.
Ricardo Brooks reports.
Jamaicans making their regular morning commute on Wednesday were met with an unusual sight.
They saw the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, government MPs and an army of young people at stoplights and in the middle of busy roadways all across the country.
The JLP team was hand delivering a booklet containing 250 achievements they say they have scored during their nine year stint in office.
The booklet was quickly criticised as a public stunt intended to mask the hard realities on the ground.
But Dr. Tufton says the effort is about reinforcing the government’s positive performance.
According to Dr. Tufton, the document is even more important in an environment of mudslinging and where lies are being fed to the Jamaican people about the government’s record.
He says the JLP is focused on running an issues-based campaign.
Dr. Tufton appealed to the Jamaican people to reject apathy and leave the sidelines.
He says the country is in a much improved position from when the JLP took office in 2016.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s communication blitz by the JLP is being hailed as a positive step forward for political campaigning in the country.
Political commentator, Dr. Nadeen Spence, says the move was an innovative one.
Dr. Nadeen Spence.
Meanwhile, Public commentator Germaine Barrett says the blitz was a clear attempt by the JLP to reset the political narrative around its time in office.
Germaine Barrett, Public Commentator.
English (US) ·