Holness labels PNP supporters in Kingston Central as ‘angry’

By: Sashana Small

Image caption: JLP leader and Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader and Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has characterised supporters of the People’s National Party (PNP) in the Kingston Central constituency as angry, attributing their mood to the rhetoric of their party’s leadership. 

“There is something that I notice in this constituency in particular, the PNP are angry. They are not celebratory- they are angry. They are angry to see their fellow Jamaicans exercise their God-given political right to walk peacefully in their community and put up posters if they wish," Holness told JLP supporters during a visit to the constituency on Thursday.

“I make it plain that wi nuh frighten, wi nuh fraid a dem. Wi come in peace, and we will walk through this community with love and respect,” Holness said. 

His comments come a day after JLP Member of Parliament for Kingston Central, Donovan Williams, and his campaign team were reportedly shot at on Tuesday evening while mounting political paraphernalia in the area.

The police have indicated their intention to conduct a thorough, impartial investigation into the matter and have urged anyone with information to come forward. 

Both the PNP and the JLP have also condemned the incident. 

The JLP has described it as an offence to Jamaica’s democracy, while the PNP has dismissed assertions that it was politically motivated, stating that it was the result of an ongoing gang conflict within the community.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister led the signing of the contract and broke ground for the construction of a $189 million apartment complex on Hanover Street in central Kingston. 

The project is being undertaken under the Government’s New Social Housing Programme and is scheduled to be completed next August.

Holness asserted that this development is also the cause of further gripe among PNP supporters. 

“They are angry at seeing people getting houses, and that is what tells you that they are not good, they are badminded. They have bad way of thinking,” he said to applause from JLP supporters. 

On the contrary, Holness said JLP supporters are “jubilant” and respectful. 

“Well let it be known that the message I send to my people is peace and love. We respect everybody and we embrace everybody. If you don’t believe what I believe you can believe what you believe, and we can co-exist without shooting after with one another. Those days are behind us and those people who expose that must be dealt with in the harshest way,” he said.

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