At his party’s final parish rally in Cross Roads, St Andrew, People’s National Party (PNP) leader Mark Golding forcefully rejected claims from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) that the PNP’s manifesto was the product of artificial intelligence.
Golding told the crowd that the document was not only carefully developed but also personally shaped by him. “Every spokesperson contributed policies during retreats of the Shadow Cabinet. We assessed each proposal, kept what was practical, and built the manifesto from there. A week ago, I personally went through it to ensure it reflected ideas I could stand behind,” he said.
JLP’s Accusation
The pushback follows a JLP press conference in which campaign officials accused the PNP of publishing a rushed, AI-generated copy of government programs. Ministers highlighted grammatical slips and repeated themes already in circulation, dismissing the document as imitation rather than innovation.
Golding’s Counterattack
With supporters chanting and waving flags, Golding dismissed the charge as “disrespectful.” He said the manifesto was informed by budget contributions from finance spokesman Julian Robinson and himself, then distilled into actionable pledges. “There is no artificial intelligence in that manifesto,” Golding declared. “It is real intelligence — a pathway to a better life for Jamaicans.”
Policy Highlights
The PNP leader pointed to specific commitments that he said would directly improve lives:
- Housing: Construction of 50,000 affordable homes in the first term, using public lands unsuitable for farming and excluding land value from costs.
- National Housing Trust Reform: Refocusing the NHT on its original mission of providing homes for ordinary Jamaicans.
- Deposit Assistance: A $500,000 grant for first-time buyers struggling to meet upfront costs.
- Young Persons Deposit Fund: A $1-billion fund, replenished annually, for contributors under 45 with at least two years of NHT payments.
- Additional Programs: Rent-to-own housing, a $1-billion Disability Fund, accelerated land transfer rights (25 years instead of 60), and upgrades for informal communities under the “Portia Plan.”
Election Pitch
Golding framed the manifesto as rooted in the party’s tradition of social transformation, echoing lyrics from Neville Lewis’ classic campaign anthem. He cast the PNP as a party of ownership and opportunity: “We want our people to be owners of this country — no second-class citizens. Time has come for a better life.”
