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CONGRATULATIONS continued to pour in yesterday for the Portia Simpson Miller-led People’s National Party (PNP) for its resounding 41-22 victory against the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in Thursday’s general election.
The Joseph M Matalon-led Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) yesterday hailed the PNP on its victory, as well as all candidates for conducting campaigns that were spirited and, for the most part, violence-free.
“Despite the reported low voter turnout, the outcome confirms the strength of Jamaica’s democracy and the power of the people to decide who should govern,” the PSOJ said in a statement.
General secretary of the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) Rev Gary Harriott, in congratulating the PNP leader on her electoral victory, said it had taken note of the commitment of Simpson Miller to have dialogue, lead a government of transparency, seek consensus, and partnership.
“This is in line with the PNP campaign slogan ‘People Power’, and we eagerly await its concrete demonstration,” Harriott said. The church leader said, too, it hopes the new government will build on the positive actions that were undertaken by the previous administration.
“The new government, guided by national interest and not political expediency, must move with dispatch to engage the people on the hard decisions that need to be made which are necessary in addressing the challenges that are facing the nation,” the church group said.
Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional affiliate of the JLP, was also among the groups sending congratulations to the PNP on its general election victory. G2K said that whilst the JLP did much to address the myriad economic, social and political challenges facing the country, the voice of the electorate must be respected.
“G2K thus wishes PNP President Portia Simpson Miller and her soon to be government much success in its leadership of the country's affairs,” the youth group said in a statement issued yesterday.
The JLP young professional affiliate said that whilst the economic and social challenges are significant, it is hopeful that the Simpson Miller-led administration will effectively confront them with the strong and responsible leadership required.
In the meantime, the PSOJ said it was looking forward, in the next few days, to hearing from the prime minister-elect, the specifics of her government’s plans to deal with pressing national issues that were discussed only superficially in the last few weeks of the election campaign.
These issues, the PSOJ said, include the future of Jamaica’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral financial institutions, and those steps that will be taken to ensure that objectives under the country’s medium-term economic programme will be achieved.
The PSOJ also called on the PNP to reveal the details of the planned Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) as well as the need for early implementation of a comprehensive, viable and growth-inducing tax reform programme.
It also wants to hear from Simpson Miller on the plans for the implementation of public sector and pension reform and the strategies to continue the current positive trends in the reduction of crime and violence.
“As we call for the proposed new administration to level with the Jamaican people about the depth of the current crisis faced by the nation, and the proposed solutions to address them, the PSOJ urges the new government to join hands in partnership with all stakeholders, including the Opposition, the private sector, the labour movement, and civil society, in order to build consensus around those issues that must now be tackled with urgency.”
The PSOJ also reiterated its pledge to offer the resources at its disposal, and to work as partners with the Government in achieving the goals of Vision 2030 which is to make “Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”.
At the same time, the JCC said it wished to salute the Jamaica Labour Party for contributing to a spirited and competitive campaign, even as it looked forward to their continued input in the development of the country.
“We extend good wishes to all unsuccessful candidates and pray that the desire to serve, which motivated them to offer themselves for leadership, will find expression in other areas of national life,” Rev Harriott said.
According to the JCC, a special word of commendation is due to the Electoral Office of Jamaica for once again presiding over elections that were, for the most part, free and fair and devoid of any outburst of violence.
“This is a powerful testimony to the maturing of our people and our democratic and electoral process,” according to Harriott. “Let us continue to guard this privilege and right that has been bequeathed to us by divine providence and the stewardship of our fore-parents.”
In the meantime, the People’s National Party Youth Organisation commended Jamaicans who participated in the electoral process and pledged to increase its efforts to engage more of the country’s young citizens on national development issues.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1i8Vgq7MU
The Joseph M Matalon-led Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) yesterday hailed the PNP on its victory, as well as all candidates for conducting campaigns that were spirited and, for the most part, violence-free.
“Despite the reported low voter turnout, the outcome confirms the strength of Jamaica’s democracy and the power of the people to decide who should govern,” the PSOJ said in a statement.
General secretary of the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) Rev Gary Harriott, in congratulating the PNP leader on her electoral victory, said it had taken note of the commitment of Simpson Miller to have dialogue, lead a government of transparency, seek consensus, and partnership.
“This is in line with the PNP campaign slogan ‘People Power’, and we eagerly await its concrete demonstration,” Harriott said. The church leader said, too, it hopes the new government will build on the positive actions that were undertaken by the previous administration.
“The new government, guided by national interest and not political expediency, must move with dispatch to engage the people on the hard decisions that need to be made which are necessary in addressing the challenges that are facing the nation,” the church group said.
Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional affiliate of the JLP, was also among the groups sending congratulations to the PNP on its general election victory. G2K said that whilst the JLP did much to address the myriad economic, social and political challenges facing the country, the voice of the electorate must be respected.
“G2K thus wishes PNP President Portia Simpson Miller and her soon to be government much success in its leadership of the country's affairs,” the youth group said in a statement issued yesterday.
The JLP young professional affiliate said that whilst the economic and social challenges are significant, it is hopeful that the Simpson Miller-led administration will effectively confront them with the strong and responsible leadership required.
In the meantime, the PSOJ said it was looking forward, in the next few days, to hearing from the prime minister-elect, the specifics of her government’s plans to deal with pressing national issues that were discussed only superficially in the last few weeks of the election campaign.
These issues, the PSOJ said, include the future of Jamaica’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral financial institutions, and those steps that will be taken to ensure that objectives under the country’s medium-term economic programme will be achieved.
The PSOJ also called on the PNP to reveal the details of the planned Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) as well as the need for early implementation of a comprehensive, viable and growth-inducing tax reform programme.
It also wants to hear from Simpson Miller on the plans for the implementation of public sector and pension reform and the strategies to continue the current positive trends in the reduction of crime and violence.
“As we call for the proposed new administration to level with the Jamaican people about the depth of the current crisis faced by the nation, and the proposed solutions to address them, the PSOJ urges the new government to join hands in partnership with all stakeholders, including the Opposition, the private sector, the labour movement, and civil society, in order to build consensus around those issues that must now be tackled with urgency.”
The PSOJ also reiterated its pledge to offer the resources at its disposal, and to work as partners with the Government in achieving the goals of Vision 2030 which is to make “Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”.
At the same time, the JCC said it wished to salute the Jamaica Labour Party for contributing to a spirited and competitive campaign, even as it looked forward to their continued input in the development of the country.
“We extend good wishes to all unsuccessful candidates and pray that the desire to serve, which motivated them to offer themselves for leadership, will find expression in other areas of national life,” Rev Harriott said.
According to the JCC, a special word of commendation is due to the Electoral Office of Jamaica for once again presiding over elections that were, for the most part, free and fair and devoid of any outburst of violence.
“This is a powerful testimony to the maturing of our people and our democratic and electoral process,” according to Harriott. “Let us continue to guard this privilege and right that has been bequeathed to us by divine providence and the stewardship of our fore-parents.”
In the meantime, the People’s National Party Youth Organisation commended Jamaicans who participated in the electoral process and pledged to increase its efforts to engage more of the country’s young citizens on national development issues.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1i8Vgq7MU
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