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JAM | Jul 11, 2025

Ian Hayles says government ‘busted’ as promised prosperity fails to materialise

Toriann Ellis

Toriann Ellis / Our Today

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Ian Hayles, Vice President of the People’s National Party (PNP), while speaking at the PNP Trelawny Parish Meeting in Albert Town Square on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Photo: BOJ TV)

Ian Hayles, vice president of the People’s National Party (PNP), has criticised the government’s failure to curb inflation, which he says has caused the cost of basic necessities for survival to skyrocket.

He argued that the Andrew Holness administration’s promises of prosperity have not materialised, pointing instead to a worsening cost-of-living crisis.

“So, when they come to you and they ask you for a third term, a third term can’t work for the people of Jamaica. Comrades, the last election was about Clarks [now], they are trying to distract the People’s National Party by talking about buses. But the government is busted. That’s what the government is busted,” Hayles said, alluding to the backlash the PNP faced from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) after Opposition Leader Mark Golding and Senator Peter Bunting accused the government of purchasing school buses to “kill off the children”.

Speaking to party supporters at the PNP Trelawny parish meeting, the vice president stressed that the upcoming election is about the people.

In a biblical reference to Noah and the Ark, he assured supporters that the PNP is preparing to weather all political storms and win the next election. “The Lord said unto Noah, ‘Go and prepare an ark for 40 days and 40 nights.’ This election will be held within the next 60 days. So while the party leader and we here are preparing the ark of the People’s National Party, we won’t be afraid of any shower, and we won’t be afraid of any floods, because this ark will be prepared under the People’s National Party,” Hayles added.

He urged Jamaicans to reflect on the burden they bear trying to survive on the recently increased minimum wage of JMD $16,000 for a 40-hour work week, which came into effect on June 1, 2025.

“Andrew, how can you ask me for a third term when three fingers of plantain are for $1,000?” Hayles said, condemning the government for the daily financial struggles faced by Jamaicans.

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