'JLP will not surrender Jamaica to PNP' - McKenzie

"We will never surrender Jamaica to the PNP. Never!" was the declaration Sunday from Desmond McKenzie of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) at a party meeting in St Andrew, as tensions rise ahead of the general election due by September.

MP Everald Warmington also said People's National Party President Mark Golding should not be allowed to become prime minister because of his purported links with slave owners.

The meeting was held in the St Andrew Eastern constituency, which is represented by the JLP's Fayval Williams, who is also the finance minister.

Pointing to declining murder and unemployment rates, McKenzie, the local government minister, asked Jamaicans "how could you ask for anything more?".

"Come to the table with constructive arguments. Come to the table with your programmes. Tell the country what you would do," he added.

Warmington, the St Catherine South Western MP, stoked controversy with his declaration.

"I'm talking about one individual who is a descendant of plantocracy, whose parents were descendants of slave owners," he said, arguing that he is not a racist but a "realist".

Warmington:"I'm descendant of the slave. We have a prime minister who is a descendant of a slave, committed to us, working for us, believe in us. Who should we choose - the black man weh come from the slave or the one who come from the slave owner?"

"It must be one who come from where we are coming from - he has more talent and interested in us more than the other. Who feel more pain? Andrew Holness, because him look like us, him come from us..."

For her part, Williams argued that Jamaica is finishing the fiscal year "strong," pointing to international ratings agency Fitch, which last week affirmed its positive rating and outlook for Jamaica.

"Listen to me, that's a big deal," she said. "When the other people dem (Opposition PNP) seh dem nah guh talk bout fi dem plan until election call is because dem nuh have nuh plan."

Williams also urged supporters to tune into her maiden budget presentation in the House of Representatives on March 11.

"You will hear all that there is to hear. And I'm telling you that the ratings agency didn't confirm their rating because they believe we wouldn't have a good budget. They confirmed their rating because because we gonna have a good budget," she said.

Earlier, MP Delroy Chuck admitted that the JLP could face a tough fight with the PNP's Patricia Duncan Sutherland to retain Williams' seat.

"2020 was easy but 2025 may not be that easy because you have a lady who come here with a whole heap a money...," he said

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr also joined cries of JLP officials insisting that the PNP should not be allowed to return to state power in the upcoming elections.

"We are the holders of Jamaica's future and we cannot allow the future of our country to be derailed or stalled by shortsighted, narrow-minded or power hungry people," he said at a party meeting under way in St Andrew.

"We have the responsibility of making sure that we not only talk about achievements but that we let the people of Jamaica know that every achievement of the JLP is an achievement for you."

Charles noted that the country's infrastructure and social institutions have transformed under the Holness administration. He argued that PNP has a history of opposing policies, such as National Insurance Scheme and income tax threshold, which it later urged to be increased.

"Will you put your trust in people whose mouth change from left to right every single week? We must put Jamaica first, and if it ain't broke don't fix it. This is good management, with good leadership, getting good results. But it is just the start."

St Andrew West Rural MP Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn also spoke at the meeting, urging Labourites to take the upcoming general election seriously because "all elections have consequences".

She argued that the Holness administration has been working hard and deserves to be remain in power.

"We hear a lot of 'for the first time' with this Government, nuh true ... And, for the first time I think all of our ministers are working," she said, highlighting agriculture and transport projects, among others, across several ministries.

Stocks and Securities Limited Fraud Scandal

Senator Abka Fitz-Henley urged JLP supporters to "mash down" claims from the PNP that the Holness administration did not protect Jamaicans from the massive fraud uncovered in 2023 at Stocks and Securities Limited.

"What dem nah tell you that in 2013 when Peter Phillips was finance minister and the PNP was in control of this county, the FSC warned them and tell that entity to suspend a critical part of their operation. And Peter Phillips and the PNP administration took no action to defend the investors of Jamaica in that entity," he said.

"So, when you hear dem come ... lying to you to suggest that Labour party could a do something and never do anything, I want you to mash down that lie."

Fitz-Henley also told supporters that they should reject as "lies" claims he said have come from the PNP suggesting that Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness having 28 bank accounts is "unusual" and indicates "wrongdoing."

"Nutten nuh go so," he said, noting the accounts cover different businesses. "Our prime minister and party leader is a man who is from the bowels of poor people. Yes, him tek loans to build himself..."

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