PM announces new schools for Portland

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

PRIME MINISTER Andrew Holness has committed to building two new high schools in Portland and to make available to Portlanders an additional vocational skills training centre.

Holness was addressing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters at a mass meeting in East Portland Monday night.

"We will be building two high schools in Portland. This will ease the burden on Titchfield and Happy Grove. But it just won't be any two high schools; it will be two good high schools," Holness said.

He added: "And what if we were to bring the career advancement programme to more schools in Portland, so that those who leave school at age 16 years and did not do so well in the Caribbean Examination Council (examinations), will be able to get a chance to be trained in areas of technical, vocational, and application base training."

Sea of green

It was a sea of green, which flooded the Port Antonio square, with JLP supporters waving flags, blowing trumpets, and dancing to songs whenever the respective speakers jolted them. It was also a night when JLP candidate for that constituency, Patrick Lee, who will square off with Linvale Bloomfield of the People's National Party, was formally presented by the prime minister.

Holness also toured communities in the Rio Grande Valley, Snow Hill, Manchioneal, and Long Bay, less than 24 hours after announcing the December 29 election day in Manchester.

According to the JLP leader, he is on a quest to empower the youth of the society, many of whom have become frustrated with not being able to secure jobs. He urged the dozens of youths present to give the JLP the opportunity to deliver on its promise to restore hope to the society by supporting them in the upcoming general election.

Earlier at the meeting, Finance Minister Audley Shaw criticised the People's National Party (PNP) who, he said, are clutching at straws and are on a quest to spread lies and propaganda about the JLP. According to Shaw, the PNP has run out of ideas and is unable to reach the electorate, forcing them to engage in propaganda aimed at making the JLP look bad.

The second leg of the Portland tour climaxed on Wednesday with a tour of West Portland, followed by a mass meeting in Buff Bay.

rural@gleanerjm.com