Senator Donna Scott-Mottley of the People’s National Party (PNP) has criticised the Andrew Holness administration, accusing the party of broken promises, systemic dishonesty, constitutional violations, and disregard for the rights of Jamaicans.

Speaking at the PNP mass rally on Sunday, Scott-Mottley highlighted the JLP’s past promises, painting a picture of broken trust, failed delivery, and political manipulation.

“I want you all to understand that they have never kept the promises that they have made in a manifesto,” she said.

Scott-Mottley opened by challenging the credibility of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, accusing him of abandoning key promises, including fixed election dates and term limits, both of which were included in the JLP’s previous manifestos.

“This prime minister promised you fixed election dates, and all we had was a guessing game about when the elections were going to be called until our General Secretary [Dayton Campbell] had to announce the date. This prime minister promised you that he would have term limits, and what we hear from him now is third-term loading.”

She continued by citing the unmet commitment of delivering 1,000 social houses per year, a promise that has fallen short.

“This prime minister promised 1,000 social houses per year, and in his five-year term, he has delivered 300. Why would you believe anything he puts in a manifesto?”

Turning her attention to international matters, Scott-Mottley reminded the audience of the government’s response when Jamaican medical students were stranded during the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

“When our medical students were in Ukraine, you never gave them anything. You, minister, told them to go and borrow some money to pay to get out of the war-torn Ukraine. What can go so? Don’t tell me anything about you, love young people. Don’t promise me anything to do with young people. I will not accept it, and the people of Jamaica must reject you and the Jamaican Labour Party,” Scott-Mottley added while alluding to the actions taken by the Finance Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith.

The Constitution

Scott-Mottley, who was a member of the Constitutional Reform Committee, then zeroed in on what she called the prime minister’s pattern of disrespect for Jamaica’s legal foundation.

“You see, when you are sworn into Parliament, you make a solemn pledge on the Bible… and I have never seen anybody break the Constitution of Jamaica like this prime minister.”

Scott-Mottley also criticised the government’s use of states of emergency (SOEs), arguing they were used not as tools of national security. She condemned the detention of thousands of young Jamaicans without charge or trial.

“They declared states of emergencies as a tool in a tool kit… and we said the law is not for that. A state of emergency is to be used in exceptional circumstances.”

Scott-Mottley made a vow on behalf of her party—one centred on integrity, rule of law, and advocacy.

“We, the People’s National Party, pledge to you that we will be different, that we will uphold the Constitution, that we will protect your rights, that we will fight for you.”