McKenzie dismisses claim JLP using gov't resources in political campaign

 

Local Government Minister and Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, Desmond McKenzie, is dismissing claims by the parliamentary opposition and other critics that the ruling Jamaica Labour Party has been using government resources as part of its political campaigning by purchasing advertisements in the media to promote the party and Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness.

 

Speaking at a party meeting in the St. Andrew North Western constituency on Sunday night, Mr. McKenzie declared that Dr. Holness has a right to promote the achievements of his administration in the media.

 

"We don't have to use taxpayers' resources as a party to campaign. We don't have to. But as a minister, I have the right to talk about the achievements of the Ministry of Local Government. It is my responsibility. PNP is not going to talk about it. And when we go out there to work, we don't mix the politics with government work. But because they don't know what it is to talk about achievements, to campaign on anything that is good, they don't want us to tell the Jamaican people about the performance of the government of Dr. Andrew Holness," he asserted.

 

Meanwhile, the JLP deputy leader indicated that the party will be holding a major party meeting on Sunday.

 

"God will never allow evil and wickedness and badmind to triumph over good people. So listen out for the announcement where we're going to be Sunday night coming. So you would notice by the actions of a certain individual, we're heading east next week Sunday," he teased.

 

In the meantime, the Local Government Minister has dismissed claims that the ministry has failed in the maintenance of public cemeteries across the island. He said the criticisms being levelled against his ministry are without merit.

 

"There are close to 155 public cemeteries across Jamaica, spread across the various parishes. A good percentage of those public cemeteries are not in operation because there is no more room for burials to take place. I want the country to understand that it is the municipal corporation - we are in Kingston now, so the May Pen cemetery is the responsibility of the [Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation]. All public cemeteries in Jamaica, it's not local government responsibility to maintain and to clean cemeteries. It is the responsibility of the municipal corporations," he insisted.