MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Member of Parliament for North Western St Ann, Dr Dayton Campbell said that the People’s National Party was formed on a firm ideology and warned against “labourisation,” which he believes is evident in some supporters and members.

Labourisation, as he contextualised the discussion, is a reference to a mentality and behaviour pattern of PNP supporters that is in line with how members of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) operate.

A characteristic of the JLP, Campbell said, is “handout” politics.

In an address at a recent meeting in the Mandeville division, the first-time Member of Parliament sought to pointedly get PNP supporters at the Manchester High School to understand why less than unwavering support is unacceptable.

“It seems we have forgotten what it means to be a comrade. To be a comrade is not about what you get out of politics, to be a comrade is about your contribution to the process,” he said.

Campbell said that being a comrade means that there is a common thread that unites party members and supporters.

“We voted for PNP because we thought the PNP was the best vehicle to move the country forward. We voted for PNP because we thought the PNP create equality in access to opportunity. We know that PNP is the reason why people that look like us in this room can gain access to education,” he said.

Campbell added: “Some point in time something changed and people are changing the meaning of what it means to be PNP. I want us to remind ourselves of what it is to be a socialist… to be a comrade. Understand that there is a philosophy, there is an ideology, there is something that we believe in, there is something that unites us. So even if you don’t like councillor or you don’t like MP (Member of Parliament) or you don’t like Prime Minister you a comrade and we a PNP. There is something that holds us together.”

He said that the strength of the Jamaica Labour Party revolves around one individual — the leader.

Without a strong leader, he said that the party is easily failing because its foundation is not built on an ideology like the PNP, which ensures that achieving its mandate is not dependent upon one person.

Campbell said that one of the problems creating the change in his party is that there are former members of the Jamaica Labour Party being admitted without proper initiation.

“I am not one of the persons that just jump up and celebrate anytime a man decide say him a walk cross the floor,” he said.

“I don’t have any problems with Labourites coming over to PNP; but we have a bad tendency now where as a man having a problem with him labour party him jump over and all of a sudden him wah run. He must spend time and learn what it means to be a comrade. We need to ensure that this labourisation of the party … we cut it out,” he added.

Campbell lamented that the right to vote was fought for and now some comrades are willing to give up that right for short-term personal gains and promises.

He said that while some people may be frustrated by decisions made under the People’s National Party administration, such as the sacrifices that the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) requires, his party has not strayed from its original philosophy to provide equal access to opportunities.

Campbell said that there is no “magic fix” for the challenges in Jamaica and urged the audience to understand that having to struggle for the short-term to attain long term gains is not the same as suffering.

“There is a big difference between suffering and struggling. When you are suffering, you are enduring hardship for no reason at all. Struggling is when you are enduring hardship but you have a goal in mind. Struggling is when you are working hard to achieve your outcome inspite and despite of the condition that you find yourself in,” he said.

Campbell was among the speakers encouraging PNP supporters in Manchester to use the appropriate medium to discuss grouses instead of doing it publicly or with members of the Jamaica Labour Party.