JLP seeks to assure of its commitment to fair treatment of labour force

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) General Secretary, Dr Horace Chang, says the party is committed to fair and just treatment of all members of the labour force in Jamaica and has "absolutely no intention to target any member of the civil service".

Chang says it must be noted that it is "in the DNA" of the Jamaica Labour Party to pursue measures which uplift Jamaicans, including members of the civil service, while creating an environment which is conducive to their growth, development and self-actualisation.

Chang's statement follows comments by Constitutional Affairs Minister, Marlene Malahoo Forte, at a JLP meeting on Sunday in which Malahoo Forte pointed to reports of public servants being partisan in the execution of their duties and said the JLP would seek to put an end to such practices if returned to office.

“We are going to have to look at our civil service and our public service, because we find that at the extremes, we have two sets of people. One set says, ‘Boy it’s not my party in power, so mi nah really do nothing to make them look good,’ and they don’t serve you well, and some of you will say they sabotage the government,” said Malahoo Forte.

“But then we have another set, and in that set, they say, ‘Well, my party is in power, I don’t have to do nothing, because nobody can fire me,’ and on both sides, the people are not served,” Malahoo Forte added. “When we go into the next term, I want to put everyone on notice, all of you, that we are going to be working to ensure that the internal clients of government are well served, and the public and civil servants will better serve the people.”

In a statement clarifying her comments on Monday, Malahoo Forte said the Government is not seeking to clamp down on or discriminate against civil servants.

"My comment was centred on upholding the long-established principle that the public service must be politically neutral, professional, and focused on delivering quality service to the people of Jamaica. This is essential for ensuring that all Jamaicans, regardless of political affiliation, receive fair and efficient service from their Government," she said.

Chang says Malahoo Forte's affirmation in her statement that the Government of the JLP will not pursue a policy of victimising any civil servant accurately reflects the position of the party which was founded in 1943 with a strong commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of members of the labour force in Jamaica, including the poor and dispossessed.

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