PNP calls for restoration of democracy to decency
Golding makes call as party presents Hanover representatives for upcoming elections
LEADER OF the Opposition Mark Golding says Jamaica’s democracy must be restored to “decency” with the calling of the local government elections.
Golding made the call before thousands of persons at a political meeting at Rusea’s High School in Lucea, Hanover, while presenting nine candidates to represent the party in Hanover, to rapturous applause, shouting, and the blowing of vuvuzuelas.
Using the occasion to rally support, the PNP president highlighted that the local government election has been due since November 2020 and has been put off time and time again for less than genuine reasons. He said that another postponement would not be tolerated.
“Local government has been due since 2020 November, and they have been extending it by amending the law year after year after year. The people will not stand for another bogus extension of this election. There are councils short of councillors because of persons who have passed on or migrated. The people want the opportunity to exercise their rights of their franchise to select the councillors of their choice, ”he stated.
“The people want to reconfigure local government to put the PNP in the driver’s seat so that we can deliver a caring government for the people, ”he opined.
He argued that there is a state of emergency in terms of corruption in the country, making reference to the Integrity Commission’s report about six members of Parliament under investigation for illicit enrichment, stating that their names should be released.
“It is time to restore Jamaica’s democracy to decency, based on integrity, based on the love and care for the people,” Golding said.
PROMISE TO FIX CRIME PROBLEM
Turning his attention to crime, the opposition leader described that situation as “out of control”, adding that a PNP government would find a fix for that situation. He insisted that different strategies than what are being used now ought to be brought to bear.
Other issues touched on by Golding included complaints about “a poor healthcare system” being experienced across the country and what he described as a crisis with the education system and the high cost of living.
Of the representatives announced, seven will be contesting the local government election due by the end of February, and two will be the party’s standard-bearers in Hanover for the position of members of Parliament (MP) when the next general election is called.
Two newcomers presented for candidacy for the MP seat in the two constituencies are tourism executive Andrea Purkiss for Hanover Eastern and in Hanover-Western, attorney-atlaw Heatha Miller-Bennett.
Four members of the PNP’s team are at present serving councillors in the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC). One has served in the past but lost his seat in the last local government election, and the other four are new to the political arena.
Those to contest the local government election in one of seven divisions in the HMC are in Hanover Eastern, Wynter McIntosh in the Chester Castle Division; Lennox Fray in the Hopewell Division; and Andria Dehaney-Grant, the present deputy mayor of Lucea, in the Sandy Bay Division. For Hanover Western, the representatives are Daren Barnes in the Riverside Division; Marvel Sewell in the Green Island Division; Brian Chambers in the Lucea Division; and Sheridan Samuels, the present mayor of Lucea, in the Cauldwell Division.