Raucous rivalry
JLP, PNP supporters trade barbs in politically charged parliamentary opening as election looms
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 10:08 AMCorey Robinson/Senior Staff Reporter
They gathered on Duke Street, facing each other from the opposing Charles Street and Sutton Street intersections. Two noisy groups – marked by political colours, bells and vuvuzelas – their sights fixed on the ultimate prize: Gordon House.
Each was more confident than the other that their political representatives would occupy its top seats later this year.
It was a battle of words, voices towering apparently to make up for less-than-impressive crowds that turned out on either side for the last ceremonial opening of Parliament before Jamaicans head to the polls for the next general election, which is constitutionally due by September.
For them, each leader was either a hero or a villain, dependent on the party they were supporting, and as Dr Andrew Holness, prime minister and leader of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and Mark Golding, opposition leader and president of the People’s National Party (PNP), stepped closer to Gordon House, their supporters and detractors got louder in the background.
Their progression, however, was halted by the armed forces, who, behind barriers and stern voices, created a security buffer around Gordon House.
JLP supporters stayed to the north at Charles Street and the PNP supporters to the South on Sutton Street.
“I feel good. I feel nice because I love my prime minister. I love Andrew. And you don’t have to ask, is one Desmond McKenzie,” chanted Kingston Western resident Nadine Thomas before she was joined by friend Shelley Davis, also a West Kingston resident.
“We are not selling out,” Davis said. “All when the place a mash up, One Desmond! One West Kingston. One Labourite!”
“My MP is Donovan Williams, and he is going on good,” offered Lloyd White of Kingston Central.
“A lot of housing developments from the prime minister. The Labourites come out because the Jamaica Labour Party has been growing from strength to strength, and it will continue because we have a good leader,” said White, downplaying criticism from PNP supporters.
In the meantime, PNP supporters looked on at Golding with adoration as he and delegates gathered, took photos, and spoke to the media before heading into the parliamentary chamber.
For Golding, this year is the PNP’s to right the wrongs of the Holness administration, which, he said, has been feeding Jamaicans empty promises.
“I’m not expecting much – I never do from them – but I’m playing my part,” he said.
“Our candidates are in place, and we are focusing on the nitty-gritty of politics and political organisation. That’s where the rubber hits the road. That’s what matters the most. It’s not so much about hype. There is a role for that, but at the end of the day, it is about being organised and executing on your plan,” said Golding, noting that if placed in power, the PNP was committed to an inclusive development model for Jamaica.
As Golding spoke, the voices in the background rose.
“Call it, Andrew! Call it! Yuh nuh want to call the election? Yuh ‘fraid?” echoed from supporters standing behind him.
Similar to the JLP supporters, they blew vuvuzelas and spewed expletives openly in resentment of the other side.
“One ‘Markie G’, we say. It is never two. Look how our prime minister nice and clean. Him don’t have to worry and fret on nothing. Him don’t need to scam people or get involved in corruption. A PNP going to win the election. Ask God,” chanted one orange-clad supporter.