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Jamaica’s political parties debate in South Florida

MIRAMAR – Miramar Town Center was the center for debate between Jamaica’s People’s National Party and Jamaica Labor Party.

This event was planned by the Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States Advisory Board Member, Marlon Hill as a way to get the Jamaica Diaspora involved with what the future holds for Jamaica.

Held under the theme, “Our vision for Jamaica’s Future”, representatives from the two major political parties in Jamaica came to South Florida to share their vision on how their parties plan to take Jamaica to the next level after the upcoming election scheduled for August 27.

Party representatives answered questions from members of the local media, Xavier Murphy, Jamaicans.com, Alva James Johnson, Sun-Sentinel, Abdul Mushin, WEDR, Winston Barnes, WAVS, Louis Davis, South Florida Gleaner Extra, members of the community in attendance, and from other parts of the world via the Internet on Jamaicans.com. and YouTube, simliar to the format of the recent U.S. political debate on CNN.

Phillip Paulwell, Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, represented the PNP, the country’s ruling party for 18 years.

Karl Chung a long time JLP who currently resides in the US represented the Jamaica Labor Party in place of Ed Bartlett who was unable to attend.

In there opening remarks, The People’s National Party talked about staying the course while the Jamaica Labor Party spoke about, “change”.

Phillip Paulwell said, “Jamaica was making progress under the leadership of Portia Simpson-Miller” and had the lowest interest rate that it has had in 20 years and the lowest unemployment since the country won independence in 1962”.

Karl Chung felt the country needed an educated population, sustainable development, crime control and debt relief. “The vision for Jamaica is one word: Change,” “Change, change, change.”

The issue of election violence was on the minds of many in attendance which both parties spoke about the “zero tolerance” for election killing and the PNP party has set up a committee to deal with it.

The opportunity for Jamaicans living abroad being able to vote was addressed. The goal is to one day have the technology and system in place to accommodate nationals to vote similar to other countries and the US.

Both men said their parties welcomed more involvement from Jamaican’s abroad. Paulwell talked about publishing contracts on the Government of Jamaica’s web-site giving Jamaicans abroad the access to submit on these contracts.

The PNP is seeking an unprecedented fifth consecutive term in power and supporters believe Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller should remain to finish the job she started.

In conclusion everyone wants the best for Jamaica, Jamaica is the land we love and want to see the island get back and track with the issue of family and values being the core.

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