Holness vows to intensify fight against poverty

Andrew Holness, Leader of the Opposition, said he will use the mandate from his recent victory which confirmed him as JLP Leader, to intensify his fight against poverty.

Mr. Holness was speaking at the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union's triennial conference in Kingston on Saturday.

He said the move comes as he realised in the recent challenge to his leadership of the JLP, was more about differences of opinion on the development of the country.

“A result of my retaining then leadership of the Party, you will see that Party move with greater alignment with the philosophical beliefs of the unions; you will see the Labour Party move with greater alignment with the working class of this country,” said Mr. Holness.

The Opposition Leader, who said the JLP is best suited to a partnership between labour and capital, added that the refocus comes from talking to young people who are frustrated that the economic malaise will not be improved.

He said the country must return to a sense that things will get better, but added, that the government is not engendering any hope and that may have far reaching implications for a key variable in the IMF deal.

“The policies of the government so far do not inspire me that we will be seeing any sustained growth in the near future, and I’m certain that in a few years it is going to become very difficult without growth to maintain the wage freeze agreement,” said Mr. Holness.