G2K to promote debates for local polls
GENERATION 2000 (G2K), a group of young professionals associated with the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), said it would be promoting debates among political candidates, in its bid to help the JLP win the upcoming local government elections.
“The local government elections are coming up soon and the G2K wants to play an effective role, we want to increase the debate throughout the country. We want people to get more involved,” Ian Hayles, vice-president of the organisation, told reporters yesterday at a press conference at the JLP’s Belmont Road headquarters.
G2K president, Ronald Robinson added that the organisation intends “to engage leaders of industry, public policy, community and academia in our mission to provide a forum for reflection, debate, dialogue and research”.
Meanwhile, G2K, announced that it would this year be working to increase its membership, which now stands at 4,000. “We have set ourselves the ambitious task of increasing our membership to 20,000 by the end of this year,” said general secretary, Chris Tufton.
The JLP group also announced plans yesterday to celebrate its third anniversary, with a week of activities from January 26 to February 1.
A seminar at the Life of Jamaica auditorium under the theme ‘Transforming Local Government’, with speakers D K Duncan, Senator Desmond McKenzie and JLP members of parliament, James Robertson and Pearnel Charles, is one of the main activities.
A blood collection drive in Kingston and a clean-up of the fishing beach in St Ann’s Bay is also planned during the week of activities which will begin with a church service at the Stella Maris church, this Sunday.
The G2K also announced that it would be publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, Action, to be available to the public by next month.