Gov’t Won’t ‘Run Wid It’ Ahead of General Election – Finance Minister

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams, says she will not authorise the kind of pre-election spending that has in the past compromised the management of the country’s fiscal accounts under previous administrations.

She made the pronouncement in light of the anticipated general election due later this year.

Mahiri Stewart reports.

In the aftermath of the 2002 general election, which was won by the People’s National Party, PNP, the then finance minister, Dr. Omar Davies, told a story about his response to a demand for the kind of pre-election spending which helped the PJ Patterson-led party win a fourth straight term in office.

The term Dr. Davies coined to describe his reasoning and action, ‘Run Wid It’.

It has since become synonymous with a party in power using tax payers funds for purely partisan political considerations at election time.

We asked Fayval Williams if, given the pressure being brought to bear on the government by a buoyant opposition PNP, she would authorise ‘Run Wid It’ to assist the Jamaica Labour Party retain power.

Her answer; no.

Minister Williams says come election time, the Holness administration will campaign on its record of performance.

Minister Williams says the government has every intention of working to preserve its record of crafting an expenditure budget that does not need to be funded by new taxes.

Meanwhile, Minister Williams says the economy has been resilient, despite recent contractions in growth.

Jamaica’s economy shrank by 3.5 per cent in the July to September quarter of 2024. That followed a flat 0.2 per cent growth in the previous quarter, April to June, 2024.

While speaking at a recent constituency meeting in East Rural St. Andrew, Opposition Leader Mark Golding said the economy was weak and struggling.

Minister Williams disagrees.

According to Minister Williams in the next financial year, the government intends to focus on the micro-business market as a way of stimulating growth.

Fayval Williams, Minister of Finance, speaking on Nationwide This Morning on Wednesday.