Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced major development initiatives for Portland, including the construction of nearly 1,400 new housing units and plans to transform the parish into the tourism capital of the Caribbean.

Holness underscored his administration’s commitment to long-term development, asserting that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is the first government that can confidently campaign based on its achievements.

“My job, therefore, is to make our calling and election sure, so I am not playing any games with the election. The first thing that we had to do was to win the battle for your minds,” he said.

Holness further criticised the People’s National Party (PNP), claiming its political strategy is rooted in misinformation and falsehoods. He said the JLP, in contrast, is focused on earning the trust of Jamaicans through transparency.

“Some of you may not remember, a year and a half ago, there was an avalanche of PNP lies and accusations. Half-truths, misinformation, falsehoods, rampant on social media and with proxies in the media, trying to sway the minds of the people.

“We recognised that this was a deliberate strategy of the PNP, and we, as a party, redoubled our efforts to communicate with you. But we did more than that. We made a commitment that in the battle for your minds, we would not lie to you. We would not give you false promises or false hope or twist the truth,” Holness continued.

The prime minister noted that the JLP respected citizens enough to be upfront about the country’s challenges and provide realistic proposals.

“And in the battle for your minds, we told you what we plan to do to make your life better. And we know we can rely on you when we tell you the plans that we have, because you can look at the work that we have already done, and therefore, you can have faith in the substance and the evidence of the things that we have done.”

Speaking at the East and West Portland Gospel Concert on Sunday, July 27, Holness announced that 1,395 housing solutions are planned for Portland over the next three years.

“You can believe that and trust in that because you have seen the work of the Jamaica Labour Party. Already, we are well down the wicket with 600 of those units in Woodstock; 600 units will be built there.

“And in Paisley, we have started planning for 795 housing units. These will be affordable housing solutions that the people who are gathered here, the people who have the ambition to own their own home, can aspire to,” he added.

He also confirmed that the Boundbrook Urban Centre in Portland will be completed, similar to the development of the Morant Bay Urban Centre in St Thomas, as part of broader efforts to stimulate economic and social growth.

“But we have more plans for your parish. There have been many attempts to put in and develop a proper cruise ship pier in Port Antonio. Well, we are not just looking to develop the cruise ship pier. What we have done with the Port Authority and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), and the Factories Corporation is to hire an international urban planner and architect to develop a plan for the entire waterfront harbour in Port Antonio. We are going to turn Port Antonio into the new tourism capital, not just of Jamaica, but into the tourist capital of the Caribbean.”

Holness also affirmed the government’s track record of delivering efficiently and effectively on its promises.

“Everything we do has endurance and resilience. Everything we do will ultimately improve the lives of the people of Jamaica. So all of you who came here tonight, who came to support the cause, you know that your political party is the best option to move Jamaica forward and continue the journey of prosperity.

“Whether it is improvement in your public transportation, whether it is improvement in housing, whether it is improvement in your community safety and security, whether it is improvement in water and roads, whether it is improvement in energy costs that you face, whether it is improvement in your general infrastructure, this government is the best,” he added.