Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, delivered a rousing speech to supporters over the weekend, underscoring what she described as a stark difference between the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and its political opponent, the People’s National Party (PNP), while championing the leadership of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“They are not like us. And it matters who leads us,” Grange said, rejecting comparisons between the JLP and the opposition. “The choices in this upcoming election are very clear. The difference between us and them is like night and day.”

Grange portrayed Prime Minister Holness as a visionary leader committed to building a better Jamaica. “Andrew Holness is not only someone who dreams of a better Jamaica, but he works day and night to build a new Jamaica with justice, liberty and prosperity for all.”

She also praised his efforts to improve access to education, home-ownership, and economic opportunity for Jamaican families.

Tapping into national symbolism, Grange also emphasised the importance of the Jamaican flag. “Some people want to take the green out of the flag,” she claimed, reiterating the pride tied to the national colours—black, green, and gold—and linking them to the JLP’s identity.

As minister responsible for gender affairs, Grange spotlighted progress under the Holness administration in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. She cited the 2023 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, which ranked Jamaica as the best-performing Caribbean island in terms of gender equity. “Our prime minister created that environment… for all you women out there,” she noted.

Grange also highlighted government programmes such as the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Project and scholarship initiatives for young women, arguing that under the JLP, girls in Jamaica now see leadership roles as attainable. “A young girl in Jamaica can be whatever she wants to be,” she said.

Acknowledging the challenge of domestic abuse, Grange referenced the government’s creation of shelters to help women leave violent relationships. She also noted the rebranding of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs to the Bureau of Gender Affairs to address the needs of both women and men.

Closing her speech on an emotional note, Grange led the crowd in singing the classic song Stick By Me by John Holt, encouraging unity and loyalty to the prime minister. “We will stick by Andrew Holness,” she declared, urging voters to show up in full force on election day.

“Jamaica will be in good hands,” Grange concluded, as she rallied the crowd for what promises to be a heated and high-stakes campaign season.