Dear Editor,

As perhaps a Norman Manley and Michael Manley supporter, I have watched over the years how the People’s National Party (PNP) has become corrupt, infiltrated by people who have previously maligned the party and “elite activists” sucking the economic lifeblood of our people. 

The PNP government had become a tax and spend liberal for several years now.

In older days people, especially professionals were drawn to the party to serve, to love and cherish nationalism and to be true comrades. 

The last 25 years has seen the party been hijacked by lawyers and other professionals with no national mantra, no intention of serving the masses but a purpose for greed and self enriching.

 It is no wonder the Portia Simpson Miller regime has seen the highest expenditure on activists masquerading as consultants. 

How on earth can former Prime Minister Simpson Miller justify the $60 million spending on consultants and what added value have these so called consultants contributed to our people, nation and economy. They have done nothing but enrich themselves. The PNP has been masquerading as a party for the people when it has been busy creating “a food” for professionals and elite activists.

Those who have been benefitting from the massive expenditure of our taxes are no different from the “ray ray” activists on the grounds throughout the garrisons of Arnett Gardens, Maxfield Avenue, Payne Avenue and Dunkirk, East Kingston. The PNP made a mortal mistake however; it failed to recognize the thoughts and concerns of the populace. 

The corruption, false promises and failure to resurrect the economy impacted so much on well-thinking comrades they failed to turn out to vote. Personally I have two children with degrees and over a year they have failed to obtain employment — the jobs are just not there.

The PNP has also been feeding us erroneous information on unemployment, boasting of infrastructural investment and investment in hotel s.  They have not told the truth that youth unemployment is not 30 per cent but instead over 50 per cent. 

The PNP’s actions of the recent past have been detrimental to true Comrades who despised pork barrel politics and corruption. 

It has also shortchanged our people by its modus operandi of providing high paying jobs to its professional activists, government agency heads, such as the Housing Agency of Jamaica and other “feeding tree” for the kitchen cabinet and hegemonic elites. 

The PNP needs to recognize that people are now fed up with its corruption, its mismanagement of the economy, and its failure to produce. 

As Andrew Holiness emerged as Prime Minister, he cannot become cocky and will have to perform, otherwise the electorate will not hesitate to kick him out of Jamaica House and choose whomever they believe can do better.

Maurice Christie