Dayton Campbell, People’s National Party candidate for Westmoreland Eastern, outlined that his party is not seeking government for enrichment but will ensure that roads are rehabilitated and farmers have access to land to produce goods.

Campbell also refuted the claim by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government that they have fixed the roads across Jamaica when other roads still need rehabilitation. “I can’t understand when I hear them, for example, come out and say they have fixed the most roads. I’m wondering if they’ve never seen any of the roads in Westmoreland that need fixing. The time that it would take you to travel, to do your business and go about what you’re doing has been increased significantly based on the condition of the roads,” he said.

He also expressed that the JLP has decided to choose the people of Jamaica when it’s too late, having been elected to serve for a decade. “I am not into this campaign with the labour rights when they just tell one bag of lies and talk foolishly because you cannot be in government for 10 years and then come at the end of the day to say we are going to choose the people now. Then, who were you choosing all along?

“It reminds me of when we were in school, and when your exam is done and you come out, you have one student who suddenly remembers all of the answers, but they never write anything down on paper. But it’s when the exam is done that they can tell you about all that has happened. If you have not chosen the people in 10 years, you can’t come now to talk about how you’re going to choose the people. The People’s National Party, under the leadership of Mark Jefferson Golding, will choose the people from day one. From day one, you will be the priority,” Campbell continued.

While speaking at the Darliston Divisional Conference, he said the PNP are not seeking to govern because they want to enrich themselves. “We are seeking to govern so we can address the issues that are facing the people. What are the issues facing the people? If you look around, you will see them. You don’t need to be a scholar. From your walk around and look, you will see the issues that are affecting the people.”

Campbell further stated that Westmoreland has been faithful to the PNP and has indicated, “the time has come now for the People’s National Party to be faithful to the people of Westmoreland.”

He also pledges that his party will ensure that fixing the roads across the island is an absolute priority while also ensuring that citizens have access to running water.

“We will ensure that more communities can have potable water, running water in your community, in your pipes coming to your homes. We will ensure that people can live in dignity with a good roof above their heads. Housing has always been the domain of the People’s National Party.

“And in just moving around Jamaica, not specific to any one parish, in just moving in Jamaica, we have too many persons that are in need of proper accommodation and currently don’t have it, and it is the reason why we are happy to put forward things like rent to home. Because when you have communities where you have a lot of farmers, barbers, hairdressers, taxi men and women, and people that sell in the market that don’t have a pay stub, we realise that they can’t get a loan from the National Housing Trust,” Campbell added.

Campbell also expressed that, having observed this shortcoming, given that citizens don’t have a pay stub to go to the NHT, they will be implementing a strategy for Jamaicans to become homeowners.

“We have developed an idea so that we can create a mechanism where you will be able to see the house and identify the house, and once you are able to move in and you are able to pay the rent, then you will be able, after a period of time, to convert that rent to a mortgage and move from being a tenant to being the owner of that home under the next PNP government.”

PNP will be prioritising farmers.

Campbell also stated that the PNP will also be ensuring that farmers are appreciated and properly represented.

“It is important that we give special attention to a group of persons who have been neglected for too long. Our farmers have been neglected for too long, and one of the main things that we need to start out with is just to change the perception around farming and agriculture. Because they tricked us into believing that it’s when you go to school and don’t do well, you become a farmer. That is not so. Farming is a legitimate career path for you to pursue.”

He underscored the PNP’s mission to ensure that farmers become rich and make money. “In keeping with this, we have made a proposal for an Agricultural Development Fund (ADF). Do you realise that tourism has the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), which is building up the tourism programme? Health has the National Health Fund (NHF) that is repairing health centres, building health centres, and building hospitals. Technology has the Universal Service Fund (USF) that is putting up Wi-Fi and all of those things across the country, but agriculture does not have a dedicated fund to help the farmers.

“Under the next PNP government, we are going to put in place the Agricultural Development Fund so we can help our farmers in a real way. Also, every single one of those funds that I mentioned, whether it is NHF or TEF or Universal Service Fund, every single one of them was started by the People’s National Party,” he said.

Campbell stated that the Agricultural Development Fund will provide proper access to land for farmers. “The government is the largest owner of land. Yet still we have lands that are idle, and we have farmers who need land to go and produce. We are going to look at the inventory of all of the arable lands in the country, and we are going to make plots available to the farmers to put them under production. If after five years you a ramp with it, we are going to take it and give it to somebody who means business so they can go out there and produce and feed the station.”