KENNIESHA BURRELL: 2025 and Beyond: What Jamaicans Really Want from the Next Government

 🗳️ 2025 and Beyond: What Jamaicans Really Want from the Next Government

As the People’s National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) prepare to face off in the 2025 General Election, Jamaicans across all generations are watching closely—not just listening to speeches, but looking for real change.

Our people are tired of empty promises. What we want are policies that improve our quality of life, especially around jobs, housing, cost of living, and national safety.

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🇯🇲 What Jamaicans Are Tired Of

Let’s be honest. The average Jamaican—whether uptown, downtown, or rural—has had enough of:

Unbearable utility bills from monopoly companies like JPS and NWC

High cost of living that outpaces stagnant wages

Lack of employment opportunities and sustainable income for youth

Limited support for small business growth

Poor road conditions and public infrastructure

Increased crime and fear in communities

Minimal access to affordable healthcare and housing

No real system for repairing or rebuilding bad credit

Empty political promises that never manifest into action

If our leaders truly want to win the hearts (and votes) of the people in 2025, here are the changes we want to see, not just hear about.

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✅ 15 Policy Suggestions for a Government that Serves the People

1. Establish a National Credit Repair & Financial Literacy System

Many Jamaicans suffer from damaged credit due to job loss, medical emergencies, or lack of financial education. Create state-supported credit repair programs and free financial counselling, so citizens can access loans and rebuild their lives.

2. Implement Utility Reform

Break up the monopoly or introduce regulatory competition to reduce high rates from JPS and NWC. Consider a government-subsidized energy program, especially for low-income homes and senior citizens.

3. Introduce a National Livable Wage

Move beyond minimum wage. Create a livable wage that reflects the current cost of food, transportation, and rent.

4. Control Food Prices & Support Local Agriculture

Introduce price controls on basic food items and invest in local farming to reduce dependence on imports. Rebuild agriculture cooperatives and community markets.

5. Create a National Job Bank with Skills Matching

Establish a centralized system that connects unemployed or underemployed citizens with jobs, apprenticeships, and training.

6. Offer Tax Relief for Working-Class Citizens

Reduce taxes for citizens earning below a certain income threshold. Review GCT application on essential items like food, baby products, and medical supplies.

7. Reform Housing & Rent Laws

Introduce affordable housing projects and rent control measures in urban areas. Create grants for single mothers and first-time home buyers.

8. Free or Subsidized Wi-Fi in Low-Income Areas

Access to internet is now a basic need. Provide free Wi-Fi zones and technology grants for students and job seekers.

9. Rebuild Public Trust in Police and Justice

Create independent civilian boards to monitor police actions. Build stronger, faster court processes to reduce case backlogs.

10. Reform Education to Fit the Modern Economy

Introduce financial literacy, digital skills, coding, and entrepreneurship training in secondary schools. Reform HEART and UWI to make skills training more affordable and practical.

11. Crime & Violence Intervention Units in Every Parish

Invest in violence interruption programs, counseling for at-risk youth, and job placement to steer them away from gangs and crime.

12. Start a National Micro-Business Support Fund

Provide low-interest loans, grants, and free mentorship for Jamaicans wanting to start small businesses—from farming to food carts to creative arts.

13. Establish a National Transit System

Introduce a government-run bus/train network that is affordable and connects all major parishes, easing pressure on overburdened and costly taxis.

14. Create a Citizen Feedback App for Accountability

Let the people rate services, report issues, and suggest solutions through an official government app or hotline—with real follow-up, not just auto-replies.

15. Transparency & Regular Town Hall Updates

Make it mandatory for MPs and Ministers to hold quarterly town halls—online and in-person—reporting on spending, goals met, and plans in motion.

🗣️ What Citizens Really Want to Hear and See in 2025

If the PNP or JLP truly wants our vote, don’t just give us buzzwords like “prosperity” or “progress.”

We want:

Action plans with timelines

Budgets and funding sources

Independent oversight bodies

Regular updates and public data

Honest leadership that listens and delivers

🗳️ Final Word: Jamaica Needs More Than Speeches

2025 is not the year for slogans. It’s the year for accountability, transparency, and transformation. Jamaicans are watching. We are taking notes. We are evaluating.

So to the next government, we say:

Fix our roads. Fix our cost of living. Fix our justice system. Give us something to believe in.

Only then will you earn—not just our vote—but our trust.

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🔚 In Conclusion: It's Time to Fix What Isn't Working

We acknowledge that some agencies and initiatives may already exist to address a few of these issues. However, the truth on the ground is that many of these systems are either ineffective or broken. Policies on paper mean nothing if citizens cannot feel the impact in real life.

It is not enough to say a department exists or a hotline has been set up. What the people need is real, functional change. We need to go back to the drawing board, review what is in place, and fix what is broken—not duplicate or rename ineffective entities. Citizens will only begin to trust the process when they see visible change and receive real support, not delays and dismissals.

We also call for the immediate development and proper implementation of a national policy focused on supporting children and youth with mental health challenges. Far too often, parents seeking help are placed on a list for a year or more with no real movement, no clear answers, and no real care. Our youth deserve more than a waiting list—they deserve immediate, structured, and compassionate intervention.

Additionally, we must talk about the poor experience citizens face when trying to do business at government offices. Long lines, poor service, inefficient systems—these are unacceptable in 2025. The process must be streamlined, digitized, and customer-oriented. Government services should work for the people, not frustrate them.

If the agencies are there, and if they were designed to help us—then make them work. Fix them. Empower them. We don’t want more institutions; we want functional, effective solutions. The time for empty frameworks is over. We need structure, we need service, and above all, we need results.

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Written by: Kenniesha Burrell

#VoteForChange #Jamaica2025 #BetterWayOfLife #FixJamaicaNow