Political commentators say JLP shifting campaign strategy to fearmongering

 

Two political commentators say Prime Minister Andrew Holness's statement accusing the People's National Party of embracing criminality is a shift in the campaigning strategy of the Jamaica Labour Party ahead of the next parliamentary election, constitutionally due next year.

 

At a recent political meeting in Manchester, the Prime Minister and leader of the JLP, said the PNP accepts criminality once it gives the party an advantage.

 

Political commentators Germaine Barrett and Damion Gordon, who were both guests Monday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, say Mr. Holness is no longer focusing on his message of economic transformation but engaging in fearmongering. 

 

"The Prime Minister at this point appears to believe that campaigning on the administration and legacy of achievement is no longer a viable or a winnable political strategy. The Prime Minister and the Jamaica Labour Party may feel that that message of economic transformation is just not resonating. And it would appear to me now that the Prime Minister has shifted towards fearmongering, a form of extremism, which is not uncommon. We have seen that playing out in American politics with the Trump-like rhetoric of, you know, the illegal immigrants are coming here, they're stealing American jobs, they're endangering Americans, the Democrats will take away your rights," he reasoned. 

 

Mr. Gordon believes the shift in the campaign strategy may help to energise JLP supporters but not to expand the party's base. 

 

"Certainly that kind of message would not appeal to well-thinking Jamaicans, given the fact that more Jamaicans don't see either political party as having the moral authority where criminality is concerned because Jamaicans... are not able to distinguish political parties in terms of the question of morality and ethics," he argued. 

 

Meanwhile, political commentator Germaine Barrett said the Jamaica Labour Party should stop the blame game because it is equally responsible for the breakdown of the social fabric of the country.

 

Mr. Barrett believes the JLP should continue pushing its message of economic transformation, explaining to Jamaicans that they will soon see an improvement in their personal situations from the stable macro economy. 

 

"You hear about, for example, huge investments in health care. Just a few weekends ago, I got news of somebody who sat on a bench for five days, critically ill, but they could not be on a bed at a particular hospital, a public hospital in Jamaica here. And those things are things that the administration, when confronted with those realities, they can't simply just say, well, no, look at the PNP, it existed back then. Yes, it is true, but people are expecting leadership from their leaders. At this point in time, the Jamaica Labour Party, they are the leaders of the country, you know, they are the government, and so they have to be far more accountable," contended Mr. Barrett.