KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has taken aim at the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) over its plans to launch its manifesto at a mass rally scheduled for Sunday in Sam Sharpe Square, St James.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s headquarters on Friday, PNP campaign spokesperson Donna Scott-Mottley argued that the decision reveals the governing party’s partisan approach.

“So I gather that on Sunday night they intend to do something that they consider quite unique. Never done before in the country, in another parish apart from Kingston to persons who are their very supporters, their die-heart base. Not a manifesto for the people of Jamaica. But a manifesto which is to be delivered to their supporters at a mass rally. They think that is something bold. I think it reflects who they are. We of the People’s National Party are committed to building a Jamaica that works for all of us and not just for a few, and our manifesto reflects that,” she argued.

Her colleague, PNP campaign spokesperson Cleveland Tomlinson, also chastised the JLP for what he described as shallow commentary on the PNP’s manifesto and its plans to launch a second document ‘manifesto lite’.

He said the labour party has yet to offer any substantive critique.

“They need to decide which narrative they are going to put into the public domain, is either our policies are not feasible or they are a continuation of what they are doing, but both cannot coexist so they need to huddle somewhere and decide the narrative they going to put out with respect to our manifesto,” Tomlinson asserted.

Tomlinson also raised concerns about the timing of the JLP’s manifesto release, noting that the first political debate on social issues is set for Saturday, a day before the JLP makes its presentation public.

“The two parties are heading into that debate. One party has launched its manifesto [and] the other party, the public is yet to see what the plans are for the Jamaican people over the next five years. We think that this is woefully unacceptable,” he declared.

Tomlinson added that this will reduce the debate to a “debate of theatre”.

“Because what they will be talking about are words put together without any substantive well-structured policy prescription that journalists and members of the public can critically access. That can never be accepted in a mature democracy and never be accepted of a political party that is seeking to run the country for another five years. So we say “Shame on the JLP.”

Meanwhile, campaign spokesman Raymond Pryce rejected suggestions that the PNP is pursuing a campaign of intimidation.

He pointed to instances of JLP supporters engaging in hostile behaviour and urged fairness in how political conduct is judged.

“Those who play victim and then cry wolf are the most dangerous in society and we use this opportunity to remind the JLP that Jamaica continues to be a country that honours our democratic traditions. There are two main political parties in this race and the PNP not only intends to campaign robustly and lawfully, at the end of the campaign we intend to be declared the victor in a majority of constituencies and that will herald in the start of the Mark Golding Administration,” declared Pryce.

Scott-Mottley also addressed a separate matter involving media participation in the debates, following controversy over the PNP’s stated preference not to include certain Nationwide News Network journalists. She said the position was not an attempt to stifle press freedom but to ensure impartiality in the process as the PNP has a right to be weary of some journalists given their previous actions.

The PNP, set to launch its manifesto lite on Monday morning, is asserting that it is not a supplementary document, as suggested by the JLP.

—Brittania Witter