KINGSTON, Jamaica— Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader and Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is currently campaigning alongside the party’s representative in the People’s National Party’s (PNP) stronghold of St Mary Central, Nathaniel Maragh, as the campaign for the September 3 General Election gets into full swing.

Also joining Holness on the tour which kicked off in Port Maria, St Mary on Wednesday afternoon, is JLP Deputy Leader Desmond McKenzie.

The prime minister has signaled that the ruling party is targeting traditional strongholds of the PNP in its bid to win a third term in office.

Speaking to jubilant labourites in the scorching mid-afternoon sunshine with a little girl in hand, Holness hailed Maragh as dependable and being “someone that the people trust”.

“More than that, he (Maragh) has expressed a rational and reasonable vision for improving Central St Mary,” the JLP leader said.

Explaining the idea behind campaigning in a seat which the JLP last won in the 1983 snap elections that was not contested by the PNP, Holness said gone are those days when “the electorate just looks at things from a traditional perspective”.

“The young people today, in particular, they are very smart, they are very informed, they are very exposed, and they see what is happening globally, and they… are going to vote for what they believe will make their lives better,” he added.

He said the JLP is also aware that young people believe that if you work and earn it, you should get it.

“… And the Jamaica Labour Party has worked very hard. So we are not here asking you to give us a third term. What we are saying is look at our performance, look at what we have achieved, look at how we have transformed the country, look at the changes we have made, and based upon that reasoned and rational approach, you will determine whether or not we have been good stewards and whether or not we deserve your votes, which is why I stand here in the streets in the hot sun to face you the supporters and those who are looking on who may not be supporters but are interested,” Holness explained.

In placing his record in front of the crowd, Holness said his life has also been laid bare to the Jamaican people to be judged by them.

“I put my record in front of you, as my life is laid bare in front of you; you know more about me than about any other politician in Jamaica, and I ask you to make your judgment about me, and I ask you to make your judgment about the government that I lead, and I ask you to judge as to whether or not this government has administered your affairs better than any other government you have experienced in the history of Jamaica,” he said.

In closing his opening remarks on the St Mary Central tour, Holness urged residents to choose the JLP, and allow Maragh to become the next Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency.

(TikTok video: Prime Minister Andrew Holness)