(Original Political Column by Juboy – Politics Plus Edition)
1. Mi Hear Di Crowd From Half Way Tree!
Bredda, when mi pass di corner shop di odder night, everybody a talk one ting – “Mark Golding mash up St. Thomas wid him big speech!” Mi nah lie, di crowd response did loud like Passa Passa Tuesday.
But inna politics, mi always ask – big promise sweet, but can di belly full after di music stop?
2. St. Thomas Fed Up A Long Time
St. Thomas long time a bawl fi road fix, job chance, an proper development. PCBJ numbers show unemployment inna some section still above national average, an many youth haffi ride all di way town fi work.
Nationwide report seh di area haffi wait years pon proper infrastructure, even though government plan fi link di parish wid Kingston wid di Southern Coastal Highway. So when Golding step pon stage an talk transformation, di people ears did open wide.
3. Promise Solve Everything
One common Jamaican belief – once di leader promise it, it soon done. But mi tell yuh plain – nuh every promise turn policy, an nuh every policy get di budget.
Government record from JIS show nuff project delay because di cost double or di paperwork tek too long. So mi nuh jump yet – mi waan see funding, timeline, an di who-fi-do-what before mi clap too loud.
4. How Golding Approach Di Pledge
Step 1 – Connect Wid Di Pain
Him start by acknowledging di long neglect – St. Thomas people know seh dem nuh deh pon di “development fast track.”
Step 2 – Offer Concrete Targets
Him drop details bout job training, community upgrade, an tourism link-up wid Portland – but mi still waan see di budget figures.
Step 3 – Frame It As National Growth
Him nuh just talk fi St. Thomas – him link di parish uplift to di whole Jamaica economy.
5. Expert & Data Insight
PCBJ’s latest economic bulletin show rural development boost GDP if link wid road access an skill training. Golding echo dat same logic – but remember, JLP also have ongoing projects inna di parish, including section of di highway dem say 70% complete.
6. Ricky Di Taxi Man
Ricky drive from Morant Bay to Kingston daily. Him tell mi seh if road fix proper an more business come inna di parish, him woulda save pon gas an maybe start one local tour service. Him words – “Mi waan see action, mi tired of pure chatting from both side.”
7. Mistakes Leaders Mek Wid Rural Promises
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Overhype An Underdeliver – People remember, especially small communities.
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Ignore Existing Gov’t Work – It mek yuh look like yuh a rewrite history.
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No Timeline – Without date an cost, promise float like kite.
8. Who This Nah Work For
Die-hard JLP inna St. Thomas might see it as pure campaign talk. Same way, some youth seh dem nah trust either party until dem see job inna dem own hand.
9. If Golding Serious
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Publish Full Costing & Timeline – Transparency build trust.
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Meet Wid Local Stakeholders Monthly – Keep project on track.
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Link Promise To National Budget – So it cyaan sideline after election.
10. Sweet Talk vs. Real Work
Mi cyaan deny, di crowd love di vibe. But if di aim is fi real change, it haffi go past platform stage. Politics Plus will watch di numbers, watch di action, an call out di slackness if it come.
11. Juboy’s Closing Word
Drop yuh comment – Yuh tink Golding plan a real ting, or a just election warm-up? Mi deh yah wid di facts an di street reasoning, cause a so civic engagement grow – wid people talk truth, nuh just wave flag.
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