THE People’s National Party (PNP), which is seeking to retake the reins of Government after nearly 10 years in Opposition, is going all-out to woo key segments of its base, in particular seniors.

But its focus is also on creating stronger Jamaican families while supporting the youth and faith-based organisations, other key voting blocs.

A $5-billion investment plan for seniors is one of the key election promises contained in the party’s 2025 General Election Manifesto titled ‘Jamaica Love’, which was launched at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston Tuesday night.

The money will be invested over five years to support 100,000 seniors across Jamaica with what the PNP calls “a national framework of care, inclusion, and protection”.

“This plan recognises the value of our elders and ensures that they age with dignity, safety, and connection,” it said.

The party is also promising to expand and strengthen localised programmes to support the daily needs and well-being of seniors. Services will include nutritious meal preparation, assistance with personal care and hygiene, regular wellness checks by trained personnel, and accessible and reliable transportation services.

A section of the audience at the PNP’s manifesto launch at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

According to the manifesto, “These services will be community-based, people-powered, and delivered through strong partnerships with churches and other local organisations.”

PNP President Mark Golding said the manifesto is “a promise born from love of country; a vow to uplift every Jamaican with justice, opportunity, and care; to build a nation rooted in dignity, equity, and pride”.

The PNP also says it will pass an Elder Care and Protection Act to prevent abuse and safeguard the dignity of older Jamaicans. It has promised to include them by closing the digital divide and connecting seniors to the modern world. To this end, the PNP has committed to implement a targeted $750-million programme to benefit 25,000 seniors. It will provide digital devices or subsidies to eligible seniors.

The PNP says it will also establish a $1-billion Faith-based Community Transformation Fund (FBCTF). It says it “recognises the deep-rooted influence of churches and other faith-based organisations in Jamaican communities, and their proven ability to drive social upliftment”.

“The FBCTF will be replenished annually to empower local churches and other faith-based organisations …to expand their community-driven programmes that strengthen families, support education, foster economic resilience, and promote social cohesion in a structured, accountable and impactful manner”.

Contributions to the FBCTF by private sector firms and individuals will be incentivised by tax-deductible status. The FBCTF will be administered by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund or another appropriate public body to ensure transparency, efficiency and proper monitoring and evaluation of these resources. Its annual report (including audited financial statements) will be tabled in Parliament. A dedicated board of directors, comprising pastors, other community leaders and appropriately-skilled professionals, will oversee the FBCTF’s governance, ensuring that it remains aligned with the needs of the communities and the objectives of national development.

The PNP is also committing to strengthen Jamaican families if it is returned to office after the September 3 General Election.

It is committing to spend an unprecedented $2 billion in year one, then $3 billion annually to create what it calls a “coordinated, family-centred social work system”.

Under this system, a national cadre of social workers will be hired and consolidated across the various government ministries. They will be tasked with supporting and strengthening families across three generations with integrated interventions to include stronger disability and mental health screening, prioritising persons with disabilities (PWDs)in accessing Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) benefits, and tapping family caregivers for PWDs in the PATH support system.

Additionally, the party wants to create after-school programmes with life skills, mentorship, and care and says it will reform the Child Protection and Family Services Agency to ensure proper care for children in State custody. It will also provide job training, entrepreneurship support, and gang prevention through the Peace Management Initiative and will expand restorative justice and community conflict resolution councils as part of a “holistic national crime prevention programme”.

The Opposition party is also promoting a National Caregiver Programme to support families and communities. It will train and compensate community caregivers, including family members who provide full-time support to elderly relatives. It will partner with churches, taxi associations, and community groups to help identify needs and expand outreach and service delivery.

And the PNP says it will establish a National Youth Innovation Fund in the amount of $1 billion to support youth-led tech and creative start-ups and projects across tech, music, media and performance.

The fund will be replenished annually.

The manifesto makes clear that the PNP is targeting the nation’s young people as, apart from the $1-billion fund, there are a litany of promises contained in the document.

The party is promising to fund 5,000 youth-owned businesses over five years through start-up grants and low-interest loans. It is also promising to establish 14 regional youth employment hubs, providing mentorship, job placement, and training. And it says it will partner with the private sector to create 20,000 new jobs for young people in tourism, logistics, agriculture, and the digital economy.

Additionally, the PNP is committing to build creative industry hubs and content studios in urban and rural communities and to upgrade 200 schools and community fields, courts, and sports centres over four years.