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Jobs not jabs!
Simpson Miller lashes untruthful government
BY ERICAVIRTUE Observer Writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, September 20, 2010
SPEAKING to a monster crowd 72 years to the day the People's National Party (PNP) was founded, Portia Simpson Miller delivered a speech yesterday that fired more barbs at the Government than the hope promised ahead of the annual conference.
But party leaders themselves drew hope for their future prospects from the sea of orange-clad supporters who thronged the National Arena in Kingston for the main event on the PNP's annual calendar.
People’s National Party (PNP) president, Portia Simpson Miller in the protective arms of party chairman, Robert Pickersgill as they moved through the throng of supporters at yesterday’s annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
People’s National Party (PNP) president, Portia Simpson Miller in the protective arms of party chairman, Robert Pickersgill as they moved through the throng of supporters at yesterday’s annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
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"...Instead of the promised 'jobs, jobs, jobs', it was jabs, jabs, jabs and more jabs; an upper cut to the face, every day, every night, every week, every month, every year for the three years... the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been in power", Simpson Miller charged, in her address to the public session of the conference.
She said that despite the harsh economic conditions facing the world, Jamaica appeared to have been hit the worst, losing an average of 2,000 jobs per month since the JLP came to power; and an increase in the national debt of J$520 billion to almost J$1.5 trillion, or an average increase of $14.5b per month.
"Today we have a government that does not speak the truth, and seems incapable of ever speaking the truth. A government that moves from one falsehood to another, a government that has betrayed the trust of the Jamaican people, a government that has misused and abused power, a government that continues to treat public servants with disdain, a government that has continued to bring humiliation, shame and ridicule to our beloved country and our proud people..." the PNP president lashed.
But Simpson Miller, surprisingly, steered clear of the hot-button Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair, which had pushed the JLP on the ropes, opting instead to unveil the much-mentioned Progressive Agenda, the party platform document for the "Reconstruction of the Jamaican society".
The PNP president also used the occasion to speak glowingly of party history, telling the packed Arena that the PNP, since 1938, was the party of visionary leadership.
"At several stages in Jamaica's journey, when the challenges seemed insurmountable, and required visionary and transformational leadership, the PNP has responded boldly and competently to the call for leadership.
"We always rise to the occasion. We have been known since 1938 as the party with the best plan and solutions to advance our country's development, and this time is no different..." she declared.
She said the PNP was able, capable and now more united than ever before to "restore the hope". Her party had advanced its organisational readiness, and spent time at its private session ratifying its national plans to reconstruct and restore the economy and society.
She said the Progressive Agenda was critical to the reconstruction of the society and the economy. According to her, there was strong emphasis on economic development, and the party would be engaging the private sector with an entrepreneurial advancement programme, including tax incentives for up to five years, venture capital and credit management for the development of new businesses, regardless of size or sector.
There are also plans, she said, for serious rural development in a future PNP administration and plans for the impeachment of certain public officials.
She said the PNP was forced to announce the rescue plans because the government promised better management "but the country has never experienced such mismanagement, such incompetence, such lack of capacity, such bungling and such confusion in government".
Jamaicans were now much worse since the JLP came to power in 2007,and despite the increase in debt there was nothing to show for it, said Simpson Miller.
In an earlier show of PNP unity, the PNP president was introduced by rival leader and newly appointed national campaign director, Dr Peter Phillips, who described her as a "voice for the voiceless and the hope for the hopeless for more than 30 years".
"We feel confident that we have the leader best able to restore hope among the Jamaican people. Every poll taken in Jamaica indicates our comrade leader Portia Simpson Miller has the confidence of more Jamaicans than any other political figure in Jamaica at this time..." Phillips said.
"Our leader enjoys the support of a united party and our task is a task for Jamaica. Our task is a task to ensure that even the poorest, most humble Jamaicans have an opportunity to develop their talents to the fullest.
"And we have a leader who has been a constant advocate on behalf of the poor and the dispossessed in this country," Phillips said to rousing applause.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...-jabs-_7979681
Simpson Miller lashes untruthful government
BY ERICAVIRTUE Observer Writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, September 20, 2010
SPEAKING to a monster crowd 72 years to the day the People's National Party (PNP) was founded, Portia Simpson Miller delivered a speech yesterday that fired more barbs at the Government than the hope promised ahead of the annual conference.
But party leaders themselves drew hope for their future prospects from the sea of orange-clad supporters who thronged the National Arena in Kingston for the main event on the PNP's annual calendar.
People’s National Party (PNP) president, Portia Simpson Miller in the protective arms of party chairman, Robert Pickersgill as they moved through the throng of supporters at yesterday’s annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
People’s National Party (PNP) president, Portia Simpson Miller in the protective arms of party chairman, Robert Pickersgill as they moved through the throng of supporters at yesterday’s annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson) 1/1 She said that despite the harsh economic conditions facing the world, Jamaica appeared to have been hit the worst, losing an average of 2,000 jobs per month since the JLP came to power; and an increase in the national debt of J$520 billion to almost J$1.5 trillion, or an average increase of $14.5b per month.
"Today we have a government that does not speak the truth, and seems incapable of ever speaking the truth. A government that moves from one falsehood to another, a government that has betrayed the trust of the Jamaican people, a government that has misused and abused power, a government that continues to treat public servants with disdain, a government that has continued to bring humiliation, shame and ridicule to our beloved country and our proud people..." the PNP president lashed.
But Simpson Miller, surprisingly, steered clear of the hot-button Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair, which had pushed the JLP on the ropes, opting instead to unveil the much-mentioned Progressive Agenda, the party platform document for the "Reconstruction of the Jamaican society".
The PNP president also used the occasion to speak glowingly of party history, telling the packed Arena that the PNP, since 1938, was the party of visionary leadership.
"At several stages in Jamaica's journey, when the challenges seemed insurmountable, and required visionary and transformational leadership, the PNP has responded boldly and competently to the call for leadership.
"We always rise to the occasion. We have been known since 1938 as the party with the best plan and solutions to advance our country's development, and this time is no different..." she declared.
She said the PNP was able, capable and now more united than ever before to "restore the hope". Her party had advanced its organisational readiness, and spent time at its private session ratifying its national plans to reconstruct and restore the economy and society.
She said the Progressive Agenda was critical to the reconstruction of the society and the economy. According to her, there was strong emphasis on economic development, and the party would be engaging the private sector with an entrepreneurial advancement programme, including tax incentives for up to five years, venture capital and credit management for the development of new businesses, regardless of size or sector.
There are also plans, she said, for serious rural development in a future PNP administration and plans for the impeachment of certain public officials.
She said the PNP was forced to announce the rescue plans because the government promised better management "but the country has never experienced such mismanagement, such incompetence, such lack of capacity, such bungling and such confusion in government".
Jamaicans were now much worse since the JLP came to power in 2007,and despite the increase in debt there was nothing to show for it, said Simpson Miller.
In an earlier show of PNP unity, the PNP president was introduced by rival leader and newly appointed national campaign director, Dr Peter Phillips, who described her as a "voice for the voiceless and the hope for the hopeless for more than 30 years".
"We feel confident that we have the leader best able to restore hope among the Jamaican people. Every poll taken in Jamaica indicates our comrade leader Portia Simpson Miller has the confidence of more Jamaicans than any other political figure in Jamaica at this time..." Phillips said.
"Our leader enjoys the support of a united party and our task is a task for Jamaica. Our task is a task to ensure that even the poorest, most humble Jamaicans have an opportunity to develop their talents to the fullest.
"And we have a leader who has been a constant advocate on behalf of the poor and the dispossessed in this country," Phillips said to rousing applause.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...-jabs-_7979681
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