OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has rejected Opposition Leader Andrew Holness’s suggestion that the governing People’s National Party (PNP) follow through on the policies of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) while in Government.

Speaking Sunday at the party’s first National Executive Council (NEC) meeting since its convincing general election victory over the JLP last month, Simpson Miller told comrades that the electors have already rejected the JLP’s policies.

“He said we are to continue the policies of the Jamaica Labour Party Government. We are quite aware that the Jamaican people on the 29th of December rejected the policies of the Jamaica Labour Party Government,” Simpson Miller told comrades to rousing applause.

“No Mama P, we can’t continue with that, their policies wrecked this country,” shouted one man as a thunderous shout of ‘No’ echoed across the room inside the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in this north coast town.

“We put forward our Progressive Agenda and then we put forward out manifesto. They put forward their manifesto, the people of Jamaica elected the People’s National Party,” Simpson Miller said.

“We are going to put the policies in place that will be in the interest of the Jamaican people, not a political party, not for a few persons, but for the Jamaican people.”

Simpson Miller said she was very happy that the electorate had put their trust and confidence in the PNP and so she challenged members of the Government to become purpose-driven.

“We must be change makers and we must be purpose-driven leaders, whether at the local government level or at central government and I warn you that I’m holding everyone accountable in the interest of the Jamaican people,” she said.

The prime minister said her Government would not be one of mediocrity. She said there should be consultation with the people and that the laws of the land must be upheld and the business of the people must be conducted with sensitivity and sincerity.

“We must make participation, accountability and responsibility our watchwords,” Simpson Miller said.

She said all ministers and state ministers have already been mandated to put in process the question of consultation and the rebuilding of communities through consultation. She said inter-ministerial committees would be set up to ensure that ministries work together.

“Already I said to the minister of transport and works and the minister of water, if water commission is going to dig up a road for some reason, whether it’s going to fix a pipe or to replace one, that the Ministry of Construction and Works must be informed,” she said.

“…So that the next ministry can move in to correct, so that we not leave some holes on the road that when it would take $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 or $20,000 to fix that road, it will end up causing five or 10 or $20 million to fix the road.”

Simpson Miller said the Government would have to be creative and an office would be created in the Office of the Prime Minister where any delays on projects would be reported.

“I drove on some roads that cost millions of dollars and I am trying to find the millions that were spent on these roads and I am warning contractors, not under a People’s National Party Government this is going to happen,” she said.