Peter Espeut | The JLP manifesto

As I write this column late evening of Wednesday, August 20 – fully 10 days after the announcement of the date of the 2025 general election – the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) still has not released their manifesto. Surely the announcement by party leader Andrew Holness did not take the party machinery by surprise. One can only assume that the JLP feels that there is enough in their record over the last decade or so to clearly indicate the direction in which they are going, and what the electorate can expect to happen.

I think I can help out by the JLP by pointing out – from their record – some of what the public can expect in a third JLP term. The word limit imposed upon me constrains me to only a dozen points.

1. Jamaica is to become a Republic: The Constitution (Amendment) (Republic) Act 2024 tabled in the House of Representatives clearly signals the direction the JLP wishes to take Jamaica. The Prime Minister ultimately shall determine who shall become the President of Jamaica without needing to consult anyone (Section 25).

2. In this Jamaican Republic there shall be 27 senators (Section 17): 15 nominated by the Prime Minister, nine nominated by the Leader of the Opposition, and three nominated by the President. Therefore should the President’s senate nominees vote with the government senators, the government shall always command a two-thirds majority in the senate (15 + 3 = 18), and therefore does not need the concurrence of the Opposition to amend entrenched constitutional provisions. In fact, this new arrangement effectively neuters the opposition, and concentrates power in the hands of the Prime Minister.

3. The government has already neutered the Political Ombudsman. If elected, a future JLP government will continue this happy provision.

4. A future JLP government is committed to absolute secrecy with respect to all filings before the Integrity Commission. This includes absolute secrecy about who gets government contracts.

5. A future JLP government is committed to absolute secrecy about who donates cash or kind to any political party. It must not be possible for the public to make any connection between political donations and government contracts awarded, or licenses or waivers granted. Any considerations of transparency and accountability must come second to the right of politicians to privacy in their financial affairs.

6. Presently should the increase in the assets of any public servant be greater than their declared income, the difference is referred to as “unexplained wealth” and “illicit enrichment”, and opens the person to criminal prosecution. The unexplained wealth may be confiscated under an “unexplained wealth order”. Should the JLP be re-elected, the government will take steps to abolish the offences of “unexplained wealth” and “illicit enrichment”.

7. As it stands the Integrity Commission has the power to be intrusive into the affairs of politicians and their families who are private persons with the right to privacy. Should the JLP be re-elected, the government will take steps to reduce the powers of the Integrity Commission to investigate the financial affairs of family members and business associates of politicians and other public servants.

8. Because the government provides some funding to schools owned and operated by churches, the owners of these schools must toe the government line when it comes to prayer in schools. In 2023 our government issued “Guidelines for Devotions in Schools” to apply to all schools receiving government funding. Therein we state that: “A core principle woven into these guidelines is that of non-denominational practice. Devotions should serve to unite, rather than divide, by focusing on values and principles that are universally applicable, transcending specific religious affiliations”. All Jamaican schools – whether church-owned or government-owned – must daily practise non-denominational worship. Schools owned by Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, Church of God or Methodists must not follow denominational practices. Should we be re-elected, we will enforce this policy guideline.

9. We have decreed that “Devotions must not last for more than 15 to 30 minutes – except ONE day per week where it can go on for 30 to 45 minutes” (Emphasis in the original). Activities like ablutions, drinking, eating or rubbing on of any substance, and the display of religious symbols and practice of rituals are banned from devotions in all schools receiving government funding. If re-elected, we will enforce these provisions.

10. It was not necessary to consult with the owners of church schools before issuing these guidelines. The government was elected to govern, and that is what we are going to do. That is what we have the mandate to do.

11. For some time now we have been seeking to rebalance the power relationships between the church and state with respect to church-owned schools. The government makes quite a considerable financial investment in church schools, and must have more of a say in how church schools are run. If re-elected, the government will seek to lessen the powers of school boards (i.e. lessen the powers of churches which own the schools and which we allow to nominate school boards) over church schools so that the power of the Minister of Education may increase.

12. We have found it useful to draw down now the future income to be earned from the operations of state-owned entities, like for example, the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA). We have been able to forward sell the income of the NMIA for the next 12 years at a discount and have a proportion of it to spend now. Although we are borrowing future income, we have been able successfully to claim that this strategy is not a loan – that is does not create debt. We plan to do much more of this in the future.

Incumbent parties must run on their records, not just of the good things they will parade before the public, but also on the more dangerous things they have done or attempted to do. Let the buyer beware!

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and development scientist. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com