Samuda says youth hold future of Jamaican politics

One of the country's longest serving parliamentarian, Karl Samuda, says the future of Jamaican politics lies with the youth -- and he hopes the Jamaica Labour Party will fully embrace the change.

"The future of politics lies squarely in the hands of the youth, every person at a certain level of the party must be prepared to hand over to the younger people, they have more energy, more vibrant and are ready to work for the Jamaican people," he said.

The 83-year-old outgoing Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Central, who was making his way on stage during the JLP's mass rally currently under way in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, told The STAR he was excited by the turn out of party supporters from across the island.

"From what I see it's an enormous turnout from our supporters, and everybody is prepared for the eventual election date. There is more work to be done yes, but we are quite confident and ready that we will come away victorious," he said.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has said he will announce the date for the general election at today's rally.

And Samuda believes the prime minister has picked the right time for the announcement.

"He is a man who plans a lot and he had long ago, we suspected, long ago he had decided this is the day that he is going to announce the election," he said.

He added,"He is a man who operates with his own feelings."

Samuda, meanwhile, stressed that the JLP's candidate for the St Andrew North Central constituency, Delano Seiveright, will achieve a decisive victory in the general election.

"He was the best candidate that we have and I am in full support. He has inherited one of the best seats in the Jamaica Labour Party," Samuda said.

- Sashana Small

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