Dear Editor,
Andrew Holness’s statement lamenting that the Simpson Miller Administration is guilty of “swelling the ranks of the poor” could be seen as him being duplicitous, at least, or delusional at worst.
Lest the leader of the Opposition forgets, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) formed the Government of Jamaica in 2007, following the People’s National Party’s (PNP) electoral defeat. Shortly after, the penultimate survey of living conditions was done, reporting that Jamaica’s poverty rate was 9.9 per cent. However, after the December 2011 election, when the PNP wrestled power from the JLP, the latest survey showed the rate was 19.9 per cent. In under four years, the policies implemented or abandoned by the JLP doubled the number of Jamaica’s poor.
Holness added that the PNP has done nothing to seriously address the issue of poverty, despite much chatter on its campaign trail. According to the JLP leader, even as more Jamaicans fall below the poverty line, the Government pays only lip service to those worst equipped to handle these tough economic times.
But, the PNP Government increased the National Minimum Wage twice between September 2012 and January 2014. Even pensioners have received an annual increase in their benefits.
The Simpson Miller Administration has increased allocations to the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education beneficiaries by 30 per cent, and children can now receive cash grants. In addition, the elderly on PATH have received a 67 per cent increase.
Holness should realise that the modern voter will only vote based on performance and not on past failures.
Garth Crawford
garth_crawford@ymail.com
Andrew Holness’s statement lamenting that the Simpson Miller Administration is guilty of “swelling the ranks of the poor” could be seen as him being duplicitous, at least, or delusional at worst.
Lest the leader of the Opposition forgets, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) formed the Government of Jamaica in 2007, following the People’s National Party’s (PNP) electoral defeat. Shortly after, the penultimate survey of living conditions was done, reporting that Jamaica’s poverty rate was 9.9 per cent. However, after the December 2011 election, when the PNP wrestled power from the JLP, the latest survey showed the rate was 19.9 per cent. In under four years, the policies implemented or abandoned by the JLP doubled the number of Jamaica’s poor.
Holness added that the PNP has done nothing to seriously address the issue of poverty, despite much chatter on its campaign trail. According to the JLP leader, even as more Jamaicans fall below the poverty line, the Government pays only lip service to those worst equipped to handle these tough economic times.
But, the PNP Government increased the National Minimum Wage twice between September 2012 and January 2014. Even pensioners have received an annual increase in their benefits.
The Simpson Miller Administration has increased allocations to the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education beneficiaries by 30 per cent, and children can now receive cash grants. In addition, the elderly on PATH have received a 67 per cent increase.
Holness should realise that the modern voter will only vote based on performance and not on past failures.
Garth Crawford
garth_crawford@ymail.com