(JAMAICAOBSERVER) OPPOSITION and Jamaica Labour Party leader Andrew Holness says his "politics" is about building a new Jamaica and restoring "the hope of the Jamaican paradise" .
Holness says he wants to make Jamaicans believe again in the vision of Project Jamaica, which started in the 1950s with the goal to make Jamaica into a place where everyone can have justice, access to education, land, peace, safety and prosperity.
According to him, the country derailed from that dream "along the line".
"Jamaicans are no longer optimistic about the future. You are told that if you work hard in school and do your part, then the country should be in a position to ensure that you get a job; and if you work hard in your job, you earn a decent pay and enjoy a good standard of living. But today, the social contract no longer makes sense. Instead of people now saying 'Jamaica no problem', they are now saying 'Jamaica, too much problem man," said Holness.
Holness, who served briefly as Jamaica's prime minister in 2011, noted that when compared to countries like Singapore, Jamaica could have done better and can do better.
"We should have achieved so much more with the resources we have. Look at even Colombia, previously torn by conflict, now experiencing growth," he asserted.
"Growth is not impossible in Jamaica. Ending poverty is not a fairy tale. We are in solidarity with all Jamaicans who are not satisfied with things the way they are and want to make things the way they should be. Those who went before and worked hard can rest assured that this generation has the capacity, talent, intellect and social capital to continue the dream of a Jamaican paradise," he reasoned.
"A Jamaica Labour Party Government will know how to attract investments to generate jobs that will lead to economic growth, promote policies to protect the vulnerable, and restore hope in the promise of a better life as we move Jamaica from poverty to prosperity," Holness added.
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