Holness's decision to suspend JLP campaign road tour not a surprise - Scott

By: Admin

Image caption: Political commentator Shalmon Scott - file photo

Political commentator Shalmon Scott has said the decision by Prime Minister Andrew Holness to suspend his political road tour amid the surge in cases of the coronavirus has not come as a surprise.

Mr. Scott said the Prime Minister had no choice but to change his campaign plans. 

"I am not surprised that at this late stage, good sense is prevailing. It is a pity that it did not prevail before and that politics was put in front and given priority over the national interest and the broader interest of the Jamaican people, and I hope that we learn some lessons from this as we go forward as a country," he asserted.    

Mr. Scott said Mr. Holness should have delayed calling the election as Jamaica was in the midst of the pandemic.

"He had, constitutionally, until February, the end of the term of the government, and then under the same constitution, he is allowed three more months, so it is nine months. And there was no need for this rush at this time when the COVID-19 was increasing in its threat and negative impact on the Jamaican people," he argued.