KINGSTON, Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding has characterised the Jamaica Labour Party’s promise to double the minimum wage as a ‘probox promise’.

Speaking on Monday at a meeting in Spalding, Manchester, Golding said, “I see [as] a last-minute, a last-ditch effort, them promise to increase minimum wage… a number that them say they’re going to pay in five years’ time.  That come in like another probox promise.”

Describing the proposed first-tier $2,500 increase, to come into effect next year, as “chump change,” Golding says if the PNP is elected, they will have a complete review of the minimum wage system to ensure that it is kept abreast of inflation,  and that the workers who are earning at the bottom have a fair deal.

The JLP defended the wage announcement on Monday, indicating it was not an afterthought.

READ: ‘It’s in the manifesto’

Golding reiterated accusations of corruption, maintaining it was time for a change.

“We are going to bring integrity, trustworthiness and honour back into the centre of leadership of the country. After 10 years of hanky-panky, rip-off, cronyism, nepotism… we have to make a change, Comrades. And I promise to lead that change,” Golding said.