Prime Minister and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Andrew Holness says the JLP is the only party that has managed the economy well since Independence.

He made the claim while on the campaign trail with JLP candidates in Lucea, Hanover on Thursday ahead of the local government election.

“Whether it is a road, water, more pay, dealing with crime, whatever it is, collecting your garbage, you must have a good economy,” he said.

“Don’t let anybody tell you foolishness. The only party that has run the country and the economy well since Independence, if you check back the records on it, it is the Jamaica Labour Party,” the JLP leader added.

According to Holness, the JLP believes in empowering Jamaicans through a strong economy.

“I come from a long tradition of leaders who believe in some fundamental principles of life – firstly we believe that ‘by the sweat of your brow, you shall eat bread’.

“We not looking for handouts and freeness, we believe in empowering people to earn for themselves and make their own decision as to how they spend their income,” Holness said.

He also touted his administrations’ track record on the economy, noting that there has been no new taxes the last eight years, since he became prime minister, while also noting that the unemployment rate is at a record low 4.5 per cent.

“The economy is doing fairly well… There was a period of time when all we were getting was negative growth or no growth, there was a period of time when unemployment was double digits, now we have the lowest-ever unemployment, so you and I know that the Jamaica Labour Party is the best party to run the country,” Holness said.