Holness Motorcade Diverted as PNP Standoff Revives Memories of Political Violence
Jamaica Live News Desk– | Aug 16, 2025
Prime Minister Andrew Holness was prevented from touring sections of Waterford this week after members of the People’s National Party (PNP), led by candidate Dr. Alfred Dawes, blocked his motorcade from entering the community.
According to reports, Holness’s security detail diverted the motorcade to avoid any confrontation with the crowd of PNP supporters. The Prime Minister, taking the incident in stride, told the media that his government “is not looking for confrontation with the people” and instead remains committed to what he calls a “partnership of prosperity” with Jamaicans across the island.
PNP’s Aggressive Tone Raises Concerns
The incident comes at a time when the tone of political rhetoric in Jamaica has been under heavy scrutiny. On social media, recent comments by PNP President Mark Golding have drawn widespread debate, particularly his use of the phrase “Blood and Fire” — language that many Jamaicans associate with the violent political clashes of the 1970s and 80s.
Golding was quoted as telling party members:
“Your Party needs you NOW!
It is time to step up and get busy and get wicked pon dem too.
If you think this thing ago come easy, you fooling yourself. It nah come easy. Labourite nah give up this so easy.”
For critics, this rhetoric stirs troubling memories of Jamaica’s bloody political past. “It sounds like Mark Golding is prepared to drag the country back into an era of violence and intimidation,” one political observer commented online.
Holness vs Golding – Two Different Approaches
The Waterford confrontation illustrates the stark contrast in campaign styles between the two leaders. Holness has consistently emphasized stability, order, and economic progress under his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), while Golding appears to be leaning into fiery, confrontational language to galvanize his PNP base.
Holness’s message of “prosperity through partnership” suggests a collaborative approach to governance While, Golding’s fiery words raise fears that if the PNP gets power, Jamaica could face not just political clashes, but a dangerous way of running the whole country.
If this is how PNP plans to fight elections, imagine how they would run Jamaica — with confrontation and conflict everywhere?!
Dr. Dawes may claim he had no malicious intent — but ask yourself, in what civilised country is a Prime Minister blocked from entering a community, even during a political campaign? And beyond Holness, should any political party ever be barred from freely moving across Jamaica? If we allow this, we are walking back into a dark and dangerous era where politics divides communities and fuels conflict.
How can we expect to end crime and violence in Jamaica when politicians like Dr. Dawes — a doctor, no less — are showing our young people that intimidation and aggression are still tools to make a political point? What message does that send to the youths of this country, if even our leaders signal that violence is not off the table?
The Big Question: Short or Long Campaign?
With election day looming, one lingering concern remains — is a long, preannounced election season with set election dates a good idea, given Jamaica’s history of politically motivated violence?
Some argue that a swift, short campaign would minimize opportunities for confrontations, political intimidation, and unrest. Others believe that setting dates in advance gives the Electoral Office time to prepare and ensures transparency.
What is certain is that the memory of Jamaica’s violent electoral history is never far from mind. The blocking of Holness’s motorcade in Waterford will likely spark further debate about the tone of this election season — and whether the country can truly put the politics of “Blood and Fire” behind it.