KINGSTON, Jamaica – The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) held its 81st annual conference on Sunday, welcoming a group of Accompong Maroons an Prime Minister Andrew Holness outlining a number of new initiatives, including a reduction in the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on electricity as well as a write-off for some National Water Commission (NWC) customers,
Prime Minister and JLP leader, Andrew Holness addressing the party’s 81st annual conference on SundayIn addition, Holness announced a widening of the J$20,000 (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) and a waiver of fees for craft vendors.
The Maroons, led by their former leader, Colonel Fearon Williams was welcomed by Holness, who told supporters “we don’t believe in separating ourselves, we don’t believe in splitting up the nation, Jamaica is one country, one nation, one people under God”.
The Government and the Accompong Maroons have been at odds over prospective mining and other issues, including a Supreme Court case concerning land ownership in the Cockpit Country, where Accompong and other settlements are situated.
The Jamaica Gleaner reported Monday that the dispute has led to public clashes between Accompong Chief Richard Currie and Holness and resulted in Currie’s exclusion from a meeting with government officials that was held with Maroon chiefs two years ago amid rising tensions.
The newspaper said additionally, Currie and other Maroon leaders have expressed concerns about the lack of consultation with indigenous peoples during the constitutional reform process.
But as he addressed the conference on Sunday, Prime Minister Holness said that the party has a strategy to develop the Accompong community to benefit its residents.
“The people of the Maroons, particularly the Accompong Maroons, the government has a strategy and a plan and wants to work with you in building up your community so that you can take advantage of the heritage assets that you have and build your local economy, and that is how the Jamaica Labour Party posture,” he said.
In his address, Holness, who is expected to lead the JLP into the next general election constitutionally due by September 2025, said that the new initiatives should not be regarded solely as promises to the electorate.
“The Jamaican people can see that it is one thing to listen to a bag-a-mouth and a bag-a-promise, but nothing that I have said here is a promise. All of what I have said here is happening, about to happen, or will happen shortly,” said Holness.
“Jamaica today is a different place from Jamaica 10 years ago, and I am very pleased to be with you on the journey in transforming Jamaica. Yes, there are still challenges; yes, there are still hardships; yes, we see that there are inequities…but it depends, my friends, on the perspective you take.
“If you take the view that the glass is half empty, then you are looking at the bottom, your head is cast down. But if you take the view — like all Labourities, optimistic, positive, prospecting — that the glass is half full, then you are looking upwards,” Holness said, brushing aside the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP).
“We are not in a fight with them; they are not in our league, we not running any race with them; we have too many things to show. We have the achievement,” Holness said, adding that “for the first time ever a government can campaign on what it has achieved, a government can campaign on showing the people what will come, not empty promises”
Holness in his wide-ranging address said that his government is determined to cut the bureaucratic red tape which he said has been slowing developments and growth in the economy.
Holness defended the decision to widening of the group of Jamaicans who qualify for the recently introduced J$20,000 reverse income tax credit, saying it will increase to just over 290,000 the number of Jamaicans to receive this cash back.
But he acknowledged that there is a set of people not captured in the give-back as they are not registered anywhere in the government’s system.
Holness said from February next year, the government will begin accepting applications from these people, who will be subjected to a needs assessment and if they qualify they will also get $20,000.
He told supporters that after the budget is presented next March, the GCT on electricity will be reduced from 15 per cent to seven per cent as his administration seeks to reduce electricity cost.
“This will allow the roll-out of prepaid electricity purchase which was implemented many years ago but has remained only a pilot… Now the JPS (Jamaica Public Service) will be required to roll out prepaid meters nationally, particularly in vulnerable communities,” said Holness.
Holness said the government is moving quickly to bring water to communities which are underserved while making it easier for people to connect in those communities where water is available.
In addition, an amnesty will be introduced for some people who have been disconnected by the NWC because of unpaid bills.
“For persons who have been disconnected from the NWC water supply for debts two years or more outstanding, who are pensioners, or who have been assessed as being in need…the NWC will write off the total debt that is owed. In addition to that, we will waive the reconnection fee,” Holness said.
He also announced that the Jamaica Urban Transit Company will by mid-next year, receive 100 more buses and a significant portion will be used to establish new routes to urban townships in rural areas.
