PNP rubbishes JLP 'achievements'

BY LUKE DOUGLAS Senior staff reporter douglasl@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

THE People's National Party (PNP) yesterday rubbished a list of achievements claimed by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) over the past four years, stating that the ruling party simply inherited and continued most of the programmes laid down by the PNP during its years in office.

The PNP also sought to dismiss the view that its proposed Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) was the Jamaica Infrastructure Development Programme (JDIP) under a different name. It said that JEEP would be more transparent, environmentally beneficial and would create more jobs at the community level.

"We note that having been criticised by the JLP for our years in office, that party has now seen it opportune to lay claim to many of the things the PNP accomplished, as being achievements of their own," PNP campaign spokesman Delano Franklyn told journalists yesterday.

He dismissed as "unvarnished untruth" many of the claims stated by the JLP leadership in a presentation last Thursday highlighting its achievements since it took office in 2007.

The current growth in tourism has resulted mainly from several large Spanish hotels built under the PNP regime, while projects such as Montego Bay Convention Centre, the Falmouth Pier and Washington Boulevard improvement were started by the PNP, Franklyn said.

"The Jamaica Labour Party cannot show one large investment in the area of tourism during the period that they have been in office," he said at a press conference at the PNP's headquarters.

Franklyn, supported by party chairman Robert Pickersgill, spokesman on justice Mark Golding and deputy general secretary Julian Robinson, said the JLP's claim of achieving single digit inflation was not true, noting that there has been double digit inflation in three of its four years in office.

Other "blatant falsehoods and misrepresentations" the PNP said were the halting the scrap metal trade to save the loss of millions of dollars in infrastructure, when the Contractor General identified 97 illegal shipments of scrap metal; and that the abolition of cost sharing in secondary schools has helped all children to attend school, when parents are burdened with higher auxiliary fees and other costs.

Franklyn said while the PNP has no problem with continuing programmes over administrations, the JLP should be honest about its contribution.

"The uninitiated person out there would be of the impression that they built these things from scratch and delivered them in the four years," he said. "What we have is a government of lies, a government of deceit and a government that would wish to posit in the minds of people things they have not done."

Explaining the differences between JEEP and JDIP, Golding said JEEP unlike JDIP would be brought back onto the national budget, and 25 per cent of the funding would be reconfigured to have greater impact of employment by focusing labour-intensive work such as gully repair, river training, and reforestation which would impact on the environment.

Golding said the remaining 75 per cent of JDIP funds would still be spent on road repair and maintenance but would be done to provide "better value for money and the choice of the projects will be done in a transparent way rather than the politically victimizing way that it is being done so far".

POST A COMMENT

You must first register and then login to be able to post a comment.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and before commenting you need to register, conveniently, by clicking the link above.

COMMENTS (14)

1/1/2012

One or two to remebemr, that is.

0o k
12/21/2011

@Aziz Anonymous
0o k, correction. 1. The perpetrators of crime are now too busy doing government work, that is why crime is down. ///
So the JLP J.E.E.P. is already working then?
@Jus Irie
My friend you are enjoying the legacy of Christopher Columbus whether you like it or not. No amount of fake-outrage nor ad hominem attacks will let I tek forward that chat. Soh live wit dat!

mike wayne
12/20/2011

Hey! Anancy, check the record, it speak for itself.. and was i the one that is politicize it, are the JLP ADS? more infrastructure put in place from the farmer administration, what does this one do? only take credit.

Elli Deedo
12/20/2011

This JLP Government is a disorganized bunch of incompetent liars. We've had enough of their disgraceful behaviour. They have tried to create a reproach on our Country by defending a well known drug don according to intelligence. Their predecessor Golding lied to the nation, as a result of this he had to resign, his apology was not accepted. Here we have the rest of his doomed incompetent followers strugling for credibility.They appears incognizant of the growing threat to our economy.

Aziz Anonymous
12/20/2011

0o k, correction. 1. The perpetrators of crime are now too busy doing government work, that is why crime is down. 2. We are not enjoying the Falmouth pier, unless you are Indian nationals or some other expat. This present government don't like dark skinned people, especially Ed Bartlett.

Anancy Bedward
12/20/2011

@mike wayne, so you're saying the PNP is the CAUSE of these sporting achievements? The hard work of our athletes, their coaches and managers brought these successes about, not some political party!! What you've written is very insulting to any sports person who has ever represented Jamaica. Why do we have to politicize any and everything?

Jus Irie
12/20/2011

I suspected Oo k was a bit dense with some of his political reasoning, but after this last idiotic comment I am certain. You need to read some history sir and find out what slavery and colonization did to the African continent. The 400 years of destruction of African families and societies was no joking matter. Show me a person who says "I'm better off because my ancestors were persecuted and enslaved" and I'll show you a fool.

mike wayne
12/20/2011

@Mike Williams They are also claiming sport growth under them two, (RUBBERS) truth be told sport growth under the PNP...Qualified for World cup football u17,u20, & national team ,we host world netball championship under PNP, we host world youth championship under PNP, we host cricket world cup under PNP, and them can't claim the Olympics success ether, cause blot&company never born 4 years ago

Authnel Reid
12/20/2011

Every day I have a roller coaster feeing about our Media. They "can't cross it" They make one step forward and then two steps back. Our Media enable the slackness of our politicians, and are no guardian of the people's interest. When will they ever be consistent? Why haven’t the media done a "Fact Check" on the claim by the JLPNP gangs? I am sure if the media would have called them out on their erroneous claims they would come clean. The Media like the JLPNP is a failure.

Devon T
12/20/2011

Too bad.. governments the world over can lay claim to something that finishes during their tenure. The Opposition will rubbish these aciievements anyway... That's their job to Oppose, oppose, oppose... THey are a bunch of Damp Squib. (check google). She will oppose the result of the election too...even if she wins. just watch out.

Tall Ent.
12/20/2011

You see this thing goes both ways.... governments inherit both the good and bad from their predecessors. I view continuity of working policies in a positive light, as it reduces wastage, therefore if you reap the successes of continued policies you should receive acknowledgement for doing so. Every new government has the opportunity to contribute to national development by building on past contributions. It is for the people, not politicians to determine who has contributed the most.

0o k
12/20/2011

Put it this way if it wasn't for Columbus we would not be here enjoying the fruits of the New World.
If is wasn't for the JLP we would not be enjoying lower crime rates, the Falmouth Pier, etc.
What id the 18 years of Comrade Governments left us but the Murder Capital of the World, insurmountable debts, 100s of factories shuttered and a toasted economy.
Better be glad for Columbus....AKA A JLP Government!

Mike Williams
12/20/2011

When a government like this bash the Cuban eye programme while in opposition especially the then opposition spokes person on Health, to now come and tell us that this is one of their achievement is more than taking us for fools. The programme commence in 2005 and now in 2011 you are claiming something. Seem the JLP and Columbus are one of the same. Columbus saw people here and claim Jamaica back then and I guess the action still enforce. Check this article http://ratbnews.blogspot.com/2011/05/60000-jamaicans-receive-free-eye-care.html

Mike Williams
12/20/2011

I was astounded yesterday when I saw the list of achievement under this government. The lies and deception continues without any regards to the people. How can this government claim something like the Montego Bay convention center? How comes? I notice another PM claim a basic school started by a previous PM as his achievement. Its localized and national lies. I notice the JLP did not claim the widen of the airport road why not include that how comes how comes

Do you feel buying into Facebook now is a good investment for the long-run?
	Yes
	No

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

Teen killed for laughing at man who fell from bicycle

PNP rubbishes JLP 'achievements'