Golding criticises gov't on state of the economy
Published:Monday | February 3, 2025 | 5:53 PM
People’s National Party president Mark Golding on Sunday criticised the country's economic state, charging that a PNP government will improve the lives of Jamaicans.
Golding, speaking at the presentation of the party’s candidate for North West St Catherine, Damion Crawford, and the launch of its election campaign in the constituency, argued that the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has wrecked the country's economic gains, driving trained Jamaicans overseas in search of employment.
"The next PNP government will be a government of the people. When 'Sister P' [ Portia Simpson Miller] took it at the beginning of 2012 we had to solve the public financial crisis of the country. The labourites had taken the economy and wrecked it on the reef," said Golding, to cheers and vuvuzelas from the audience.
"We had to get the debt coming down to a level that can be managed. Now, we have passed that. It has reached a stage now where the people are hungry and frustrated and want hope of a Jamaica where the people of Jamaica don't have to think about going to foreign because opportunities are here," he charged, citing the plight of farmers, doctors, and the police.
The PNP will be a government of respect, he promised, addressing the matter of Jamaica's constitutional reform, and the access of ordinary Jamaicans to a fair and efficient regional court system, which is the Caribbean Court of Justice.
"We want to give the ordinary Jamaican man and woman access to justice. Right now, under the King of England system, you don't have access to justice unless you are a multi-millionaire, or you are on death row and some lawyers in foreign sorry for you and take your case for free," he said.
"I want constitutional reform and we have been fighting for it for decades. We want to establish a republic, we want full sovereignty for our people. Time has come for Jamaica to believe in itself and run its own affairs, but we are not into this piecemeal approach... justice is important for the people and we stand up for justice."
In the meantime, Crawford thanked Golding for placing him in North West St Catherine, a constituency that he said matches his morals, beliefs, and values.
He said the constituency made him feel welcome and motivated.
"I love this constituency, and I will never sell out East Rural St Andrew, because a dem buss me," he said.
"And I will always pay respect to East Portland. Love them same way."
"I have made a many of sacrifice, put in a lot of work for this party, lot of effort, and sometimes, you lay down and you wonder...is it worth it? But when I see how my colleagues showed up for me today...it is love and honour."
- Corey Robinson
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