Holness Accuses PNP of Defending Criminality as an Election Tactic

Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, leader and Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is accusing the opposition People’s National Party, PNP, of defending criminality, in order to boost their fortunes at the next general elections.

Speaking at the Central Manchester constituency conference on Sunday, Holness said such conduct can best be labelled as ‘PNP-ism’.

Colliecia Wright reports.

Manchester has recorded an uptick in murders since the start of the year, with the police pinning the blame on gangsters fighting over the spoils of lottery scamming.

The prime minister told labourites that rather than speak out against violent criminality, the PNP finds it politically expedient to hug up the criminals.

His statement follows a mid-October utterance from Mandeville mayor, Donovan Mitchell, who said there was nothing wrong with unexplained wealth.

At the time, Mayor Mitchell was responding to Councillor for the Craighead division, Omar Miller, who sought to explain that some entertainment events in the parish were being funded by lottery scammers.

But the Mandeville mayor has defended his comment. He says at no point did he offer support for scamming, nor did he intend to convey such a message.

He said his response was intended as a sarcastic jab at the conduct of the JLP.

Holness says no member of his party could ever offer any endorsement of crime or criminal behaviour.

The prime minister says the successful use of states of public emergency is part of the reason behind the PNP’s strong opposition to the security measure.