Jamaica – Things got heated during the national debates as JLP’s Matthew Samuda came out swinging against the Opposition PNP, accusing them of faking concern for the environment.
Samuda’s response followed a statement from PNP debater Sophia Frazer-Binns, who claimed a future PNP government would make the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) an independent regulator.
But Samuda wasn’t buying it. He pointed to what he described as the PNP’s poor environmental record, including past plans to build a logistics hub on the protected Goat Islands, a move that sparked major backlash from conservationists.
“They have never demonstrated environmental leadership,” Samuda said bluntly, warning voters not to fall for the green talk on stage.
The Goat Islands controversy, which erupted under a previous PNP administration, involved a proposed industrial development in a critical wildlife area. Though the plan was eventually scrapped, it left a lasting stain on the PNP’s environmental credibility.
As the #JaVotes2025 race heats up, both parties are now trying to claim the high ground on climate resilience, green policy, and natural resource protection.
But Samuda insists the JLP has been delivering where it matters — in real policy and action — while the PNP is just now scrambling to fix an image tarnished by years of environmental neglect.







