Damion Crawford MP Candidate East Rural St. Andrew (Nov 6th 2011) pt 3

Kingston, November 7, 2011: Declaring that a vote for the People's National Party (PNP) in the next general election will be a vote for profound social and economic change, the party's new candidate for East Rural St. Andrew, Damion Crawford has criticized the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration for its failure to successfully correct the problems facing Jamaica while doubling the country's indebtedness with little to show for it. In comparison, he said, the previous tenure of the PNP in government was characterised by a proud legacy of progressive social legislation and infrastructure development.

Addressing a rally to launch his election campaign at the Harbour View Primary School on Sunday (Nov 6), Crawford, a university lecturer, noted that the PNP was running what he called a WHY election, based on why persons should vote for the PNP, its leader, Portia Simpson Miller and in the constituency, for him as Member of Parliament.

In presenting the PNP as the better choice of the two major political parties, Crawford reeled off a list of developments led by former PNP leaders. He credited the first PNP President, Norman Manley with giving ordinary Jamaicans the right to vote and opening up access to education for Jamaicans of all social and economic classes.

Michael Manley, he said, pioneered legislative changes such as equal pay for women and the removal of the so called bastardy law, which deprived children of unmarried parents to rights of inheritance and ascribed to them a lower social status. Crawford, a former PNP Youth Organisation president, said PJ Patterson will be remembered for positively transforming the country's infrastructure, while Portia Simpson Miller was unequalled in her championing of social and economic progress for the masses of the people of Jamaica.

"No government built as many schools and hospitals as PJ Patterson's; no government has improved our airports and seaports as the PJ Patterson administration; when they say we did nothing in those 18 years, I say go out and take the pictures because we have evidence of what we have done," Crawford declared.

He said, in contrast, the JLP had failed to deliver on their promises to provide jobs and economic growth, while robbing the Jamaican people of hope for the future.
"They (the JLP) have doubled the debt (currently estimated at $1.6 trillion) and they have no pictures to show for it," he said.

Crawford warned his party to prepare for a hard campaign because the party under the leadership of Portia Simpson Miller represented social change, which he said, would face resistance from vested interests.

He pointed out that: "The most important change is social change; with social change a street sweeper's son can become a doctor. Social change is the understanding that a woman from the poorer class can become prime minister of the country."

Crawford also rubbished claims that Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the JLP offered hope for young people, noting that Holness had not shown much evidence of being different from his elders during his 14 years tenure to date as a Member of Parliament. This, he said, was further supported by the Prime Minister's stated commitment to continuing what he said was the failed governance approach pursued by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

He said that young voters should not be taken in by such as claims, which he said, were not based on anything concrete. The PNP, he said should be judged by its policies which had resulted in gains for the youth in terms of increased educational access, training opportunities and other benefits. It was these achievements, rather than the age of political leader, which Crawford said were most important.

He accused the JLP of destroying the hopes of young people, some of whom had supported that party in 2007, with the hope of seeing change. He said instead, they had received a change for the worse.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Damion
• Crawford
• Mp
• candidate
• East
• Rural
• St
• Andrew
• pt

[trudyest22]

indeed man of change! lol wont forget d UWI SAS hostage in which uwi fees went up by less than d normal,with that said n seen, indeed forward with Crawford! im fr may pen Noel Ascot's constituency, whom i think is progressive as well, but i vote hoping Damion Crawford can b apart critical decison making process that is progressive for d 'yute' lol

[english5050]

I wonder if Portia see why she need to step down and let this youth yah go up against Andrew ???

The youth have good track record for fighting for the ppl and not for himself.

[Callabad]

Don't worry if you get elected you will be the same as all of them....Good youth until y'all get elected...smh

[SoldjieElindsay]

Crawford you should be the leader of the PNP instead of Portia Simpson.You could be a great Jamaican leader if you don't get corrupt.Even thou it will be so hard not to get touch seasoned and marrinated in there crucked and corrupted ways.

[SoldjieElindsay]

Crawford you should be the leader of the PNP instead of Portia Simpson.

[milkysher]

Crawford can really speak. I feel so proud to be a comrade. :)

[tikka2ful]

good youth for the job congrat PNP

[jamaicandonj1]

great speech

[staciab2k8]

what R U doing over there? U should be over here young man!

[SuperVengara]

best speech i've ever heard................... forward with crawford