Generation 2000 (G2K) now has recognised status and a more powerful voice in the Jamaica Labour Party, according to its president, Dr Christopher Tufton, having moved from being a mere associate to affiliate at the last Central Executive meeting of the party.

“This provides us with greater leverage, greater influence in the Labour party,” said Tufton, speaking at a press conference last week following G2K’s annual general meeting.

“As a case in point we now have delegate status so with each major decision at the national conference, issues related to deputy leaders and other big decisions, G2K will be right there at the table and will seek to use its delegates to influence that we feel is in the best interest of the party and by extension the best interest of the country.”

Tufton was returned unopposed as president following elections at the AGM. His new executive comprises vice presidents, Kent Gammon, Trudy Deans, Kenneth Rowe, and Ian Murray, and Warren Ulett as general secretary.

Outlining G2K’s record for the past year, Tufton noted that the organisation had continued its work in the development of policy and dissecting topical policy issues; and had advanced its positions in the media, through public seminars and live addresses.

The organisation had also sought to step up its organisational work, focusing its efforts on 21 seats the JLP had lost closely to the People’s National Party (PNP) in the last general election.

Sixteen of those seats were lost by less than 1,000 votes and the other five by 1,500 votes, Tufton noted.

G2K is assisting with the enumeration exercise, training, recruitment and general overall support for those candidates and seeking to increase the number of its own members contesting seats, up from the 10 put forward at the last election.

Tufton also outlined plans to set up more G2K chapters around the island and abroad in areas where there are large Jamaican communities such as New York, where a chapter was established last year, as well as in Florida, Toronto, and possibly London.

This was in recognition, he said, of the increasing role and influence of the diaspora in areas such as investment, tourism, remittances and trade.

Turning to the issue of crime, Tufton criticised the recently launched Operation Kingfish security initiative aimed at apprehending major crime players, saying it was premature to make a big announcement on the issue without showing tangible results first.

[The police have since announced two big operations under Kingfish that confiscated $100 million of cocaine in one case, and 28 go-fast boats in the other.]

“In the US there is what is called a “sting” operation…you don’t put the criminal on guard when you are coming for him… the first thing is to have some results, then you talk about it,” said the G2K president.

“When the police commissioner talks about collecting 180,000 rounds, the fact is that we are failing to secure our borders and giving greater power to the ‘don’ culture,” said Tufton who also noted that the country seemed headed for a record 1,500 murders this year.