PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller told supporters at the National Arena yesterday that her governing People’s National Party (PNP) will win next year’s local government elections, as well as the 2016 General Election.
The prime minister added that she was confident that the people of Jamaica know that the PNP is the best party to govern Jamaica.
“Comrades, are you ready?” the PNP leader asked the crowd at the party’s 76th Annual Conference at the National Arena. The answer was an extended period of deafening vuvuzelas noisily echoing around the arena.
Disparaging comments by Opposition spokesman on finance and planning Audley Shaw that while the PNP Government may be passing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) tests, it is failing the “people’s test”, Simpson Miller said:
“I tell you something more, we are going to pass the people’s test again next year when local government elections are due. And then, we are going to pass the people’s test again, when the big one comes around.”
“Comrades, 2016 is not far away. We are not ready yet to step on the gas pedal, but we are tuning up the engine, we are cleaning up the carburettor, we are changing out the air filter, we are dressing up the vehicle: We are getting ready; we are getting ready,” she repeated.
“We have passed the IMF test and we have passed the people’s test. Come next year, we will pass the people’s test again. You know why? The people know that we know what we are doing, and the people know that we know where we are going, and the people know that the People’s National Party right now is the best government to lead Jamaica,” she added.
In her approximately two-hour-long speech the PM did not include any announcements on either government policy or party programmes. She instead focused on the party’s achievements, insisting that the Government had “taken some tough decisions which have started to bear fruit”.
“Jamaica is now well positioned to create a new economy. It is an economy based on innovation, fiscal responsibility, and a major expansion in production and investments at all levels,” she said.
“The question for everyone in this Arena and beyond is: How can each of us help to accelerate the progress? It cannot be business as usual. We have to do new things and approach traditional things in new ways to get better results,” she said.
She then recalled the achievements of each generation of the party’s leaders dating back to Norman Manley. Her mission, now, she said, is to sustain economic growth above the average growth rate of 0.8 per cent and reduce the public debt stock.
The crowd of PNP faithfuls was evidently below the party’s normal conference strength, especially when it is in power. However, they filled a number of Jamaica Urban Transit Company buses, as well as private Coaster buses, minibuses and motor cars, and turned the event into the usual political outing that local party conferences have been for decades.
Ganja smoke filled the air outside the Arena, while food and refreshment sellers did brisk business.
The doors to the arena were closed after the prime minister started her speech and many of the revellers chose to remain outside, enjoying the party atmosphere of Independence Park. It didn’t mean that they were any less interested in th proceedings inside, however, as they watched the the prime minister on big screens, cheered her on throughout and delayed her from reaching her vehicle as she greeted them on her way out.