MANDEVILLE, Manchester — An annoyed Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Jamaicans to “pick sense out of nonsense” and to stop spreading and accepting rumours and gossip.

“One of the most frustrating things for me is to have intelligent people call me and ask me about rumours,” he said on Wednesday during his address at the handing over ceremony for phase two of Perth Estate in Manchester.

Holness said there is a battle for the mind of Jamaicans.

“In today’s world there is, as there always has been, but in today’s world it is far more intense. There is a battle for your mind. There is a battle for what you think and it is a battle that we must be very careful not to lose, because the consequence of losing the battle is significant, dangerous,” he said.

He suggested that there is misinformation in the public domain.

“There is always a narrative that is always in the public domain. In fact, there are competing narratives, several narratives, different perspectives, different truths,” he said.

“You are all at the same time the judge of the information, but you are also the target of the information. What information will you believe. What information will you use to make your decisions,” added Holness.

He then urged Jamaicans to read with discernment.

“I want us all the recognise the importance of not believing the negatives. My grandmother used to say you have to be able to pick sense out of nonsense… Not everything that is published, not everything that is written, not everything that is carried by gossip and rumours should be believed,” he said.

“Information is like food. Be careful what you feed your mind. Be careful where you get your information. Read with discernment,” he added.

Holness boosted about economic growth and Government’s Reverse Income Tax Credit programme.

“…Get it in your mind that Jamaica is an economically stronger country than it has ever been since our independence. We have achieved 12 quarters of consecutive economic growth following the COVID pandemic. We have record unemployment rate of 4.2 per cent. The lowest national debt to GDP ratio in 30 years. We have a stable exchange rate and no new taxes for nine consecutive budgets,” he said.

“When did the Government of Jamaica ever give back anything in taxes to people? Answer that question. Can anyone? No, never. Now the Government has announced a new programme the Reverse Income Tax Credit where persons who are earning below $3 million providing they are compliant they get tax relief. They get back a cheque. Is this the same Jamaica as the Jamaica 10 years ago? Absolutely not, but yet there is a battle for your mind,” added Holness.

— Kasey Williams