Dear Editor,

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) should be commended for the outcome of its 80th anniversary conference, which was celebrated last Sunday with a public session at National Arena.

The Labourites came out and delivered a spectacular show. The planning, organising, and execution seemed top-notch; therefore, special acknowledgement is extended to the various teams that were integral in the planning and staging.

For those who were on site or online, there is no denying that the number of party supporters who turned out was impressive. Conference chairman, Desmond McKenzie, had to send out an advisory from early in the conference that the arena had superseded its capacity and Labourites who were not in proximity should reconsider attending in person, as even outside was flooded by a sea of green. Even online there was a significant number of People’s National Party (PNP) supporters who tuned in.

It was also good to see a reasonable fraction of young people in attendance. With the JLP’s conference attracting more than the 13,000 people who attended the PNP’s, it is encouraging to see that there is still hope for democracy in Jamaica. It will be interesting to see the voter turnout for the upcoming local government and subsequent general elections.

Often accused of campaigning on public relations, the Andrew Holness-led Administration sought to dispel that notion by highlighting the many achievements of the Government through the intervention of the different conference speakers. It was a very good and strategic line-up — primarily youth and women. Importantly, the messages were not repetitive. Each speaker shared a different set of accomplishments, while reinforcing key points.

Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke delivered a prime ministerial speech. He brought energy, conviction, statistics, and good news. He articulated all of this in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner without using a script. Undoubtedly, Jamaicans will thank him and the team for the promised increase of the duty-free and custom threshold increases, though the Opposition is taking credit for its lobbying. Do I hear more shopping on Amazon and Shein?

Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s speech was not a typical one. Some — mainly his critics — thought it lacked substance and was not inspiring. Many also believe that his energy level faded significantly throughout his presentation. Notwithstanding, despite being somewhat atypical for a political conference, the prime minister addressed the ongoing Israeli-Hamas/Palestinian war — although he was being politically correct — climate change, and, critically, the perpetual issue of crime and violence.

He aptly described our grave domestic problem: Jamaica is at war with itself. Against this background, he said he is contemplating establishing a new ministry — supposedly guided by research — to address violence in our society. The word “peace” would be a key element in this ministry’s name.

While we await the findings of the researchers, expected before year end, it is hoped that the Government would, in the true sense of partnership and bipartisanship, welcome members of the parliamentary Opposition to work in this ministry. We cannot continue to speak of wanting to rid the country of crime and violence but not address the root causes. With a “third term loading”, Jamaicans are still awaiting the promise of sleeping with their windows open.

Prime Minister Holness also addressed the need for greater productivity. He is right. The country needs to produce more for domestic and international export. Additionally, we must remove the unnecessary bureaucratic processes to get things done. Likewise, we must ensure the people in the public sector go to work and actually do their work. Many of them are extremely lazy.

It is dishonest for people to be collecting a salary monthly or fortnightly but they are not doing their work. And guess what? Many Christians are guilty of this offence. Still, the Government should continue to ensure that better quality remuneration is offered to its employees.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has basically described the prime minister as timid and fearful for not yet announcing the date for the local government election. But with the continued internal divisions happening in the PNP, and with a couple PNP councillors crossing the floor to join the JLP, Mark Golding and his Rise United team had better read the writing on the wall.

Venesha Phillips is right in saying that the current state of the PNP is not one that is capable of continuing the progress being achieved by the JLP, though it is slow.

Oneil Madden

maddenoniel@yahoo.com