PNP criticises JLP for decision to launch manifesto at mass rally

 

The People's National Party is criticizing the Jamaica Labour Party's decision to launch its manifesto at a party meeting. 

 

Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, PNP campaign spokesperson Donna Scott Motley accused the JLP of ignoring the wider Jamaican electorate who want to hear their plans but may not want to tune into a political meeting.

 

"So I gather that on Sunday night, they have decided to do something which they consider to be quite unique... never done before in the country, in another parish apart from Kingston, to persons who are they are very die-hard base, their own supporters, not a manifesto for the people of Jamaica but a manifesto which is to be delivered to their supporters at a mass rally. They think that is something bold. I think that it reflects who they are," she contended.

 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Scott Motley defended the PNP's decision to withhold a portion of its manifesto until after the JLP has launched its document. She said the PNP wanted to prevent the ruling party from copying its ideas. 

 

"We will very shortly be also launching what we call a manifesto light, which is really ideas which we are taking from our present manifesto. But there are some which we will be introducing for the first time, simply because we know that those who accuse you of copying and pasting do so because they are experts at it. We have had this experience before. It is not a new thing. We have heard ideas articulated by one of our spokespersons, Damion Crawford, who suggested that the GCT on electricity should be removed or lowered for certain sets of persons. And it was scoffed at by no lesser person than the Minister of Finance himself, only to see it being implemented. We recommended that GCT should be reduced. Again, we were ridiculed and then it was implemented. So we are accustomed to it," she reasoned.