Dear Editor,

News has surfaced that People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker for St Catherine East Central Raymond Pryce has revealed that it would be unwise for the party to disclose its manifesto before the general election due by September 2025 as he fears the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) would steal its ideas.

Pryce argues that the Government would poach the PNP’s ideas, citing as example the Government’s intention to raise the income tax threshold once again, possibly at the start of the new fiscal year in April. Pryce believes the Government is doing this because PNP leader Mark Golding had previously called for the Government to raise the income tax threshold to $3 million.

Notwithstanding, Golding has recently sought to pressure the Government to indicate to the people of Jamaica how the provisions of this new threshold will be financed. Ironically, it is yet to be proven how the PNP would finance this very ambition that they equally share.

Since the local government election campaign has intensified, Golding has found himself flip-flopping on many issues and there is no clear message from the PNP on its plans for the country. All we continue to hear is #TimeCome. What has time come for? A slogan alone is insufficient to convince the masses that we should give up the current Government that has given us some indicators that they are performing for an Opposition that campaigns on emptiness.

If there is no manifesto, how will we learn of the potential and capacity of the Opposition to lead the country? Several reviews and statistics show that the country is now experiencing one of its best economic trajectories, which we cannot allow to be mismanaged or derailed. Consequently, the people need to know the innovative and well-thought-out goals that the PNP has to take Jamaica forward. However, two things come to mind: (1) either the PNP has no meaningful plans, or (2) their plans are so life-impacting that they have to safeguard them from the JLP, which is now known as the party that implements and gets things done, contrary to the “Pipeline National Party”.

Different polls and commentaries suggest that the local government race is going to be a close one. Party leaders along with their Members of Parliament (MPs), councillors, mayors, and caretakers have been walking and working the fields to reach their supporters and secure some new and undecided voters. It is clear that tangible results play an important role in many people’s decisions. It means that “action, not a bagga mouth” is crucial in persuading members of the electorate to cast their votes.

Even though the Government is campaigning on its perceived achievements, the average Jamaican often feels distant from this reality. If the JLP’s mere achievements cannot automatically secure victory for them, what then of the PNP?

It is understandable that each party will depend on many of their MPs, their leader, and members with charisma and personality to lead the campaign trail, especially because many divisions were out of a councillor or caretaker for a long time. It is, however, unfortunate that citizens are expected to go to the polls to vote for many newcomers that they hardly know. The call is, therefore, renewed for local government to be taken seriously, especially now that the political directorate is handsomely paid.

All things said, the PNP needs a strong message on which to campaign; otherwise, the JLP will prove to them that the time has come for Jamaicans to continue to engage with the current Government for partnership, prosperity, and productivity.

Mark Golding must get it right and take home this election, especially as he is trailing Damion Crawford and Lisa Hanna in favourability based on the latest BlueDot polls. Will his time come? The votes will tell.

Oneil Madden

maddenoniel@yahoo.com