The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is marking its 81st anniversary on Monday by reaffirming to the Jamaican people its commitment towards transforming the island, JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang said in a release.

Chang says the party also remains committed to empowering Jamaicans, securing Jamaica’s economic independence and realising a vision of shared prosperity for all.

The JLP was founded on July 8, 1943 by Sir Alexander Bustamante who went on to become the first prime minister of independent Jamaica.

“The Jamaica Labour Party remains committed to our mission of defending workers’ rights and being an organisation which is serious about pursuing policies which uplift the poor and downtrodden. We also remain committed to the principle of a market driven economy and sustaining an environment where every Jamaican has the opportunity to earn and secure prosperity for themselves and their families,” Chang, who is also the deputy prime minister, said.

According to Chang, the JLP is proud of its track record of what he labelled as doing right by the Jamaican people and moving the country in a positive direction whenever it has been given the honour to manage the affairs of the island.

“Our activities to mark our 81st anniversary this year are reserved given that we recognise that with the passage of Hurricane Beryl, there is an urgent need to continue to devote our energies and focus on again assisting the Jamaican people to recover from what has been a significant setback for many,” Chang said.

The JLP general secretary added that the party will continue to conceptualise and implement policies which he said are in the interest of the Jamaican people.

Chang added that the JLP has not lost sight of the importance of continuing to introspect and implement measures which will better position it to continue carrying Jamaica in the right direction, the release stated.