Mr. Vegas spoke at the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) St. James Central Workers Conference on Sunday, invigorating party members with a resounding speech in support of a third term for the JLP.
During his first official speech on a JLP platform, Mr. Vegas said he’s not speaking as an artiste but as a patriotic citizen who wants the best for his country. Sharing why he chose to support the JLP, the deejay recalled shop owners ‘marrying goods’, forcing customers to buy multiple items together.
“As a likkle yute, when my parents send mi to shop one day fi guh buy some rice and I guh to the shop and the housekeeper seh to mi have to buy soap wid di rice. Dats stick in a my brain from dem time deh. Suh mi did affi be a Labourite because dem days deh a di days when PNP (The People’s National Party) have it,” Mr. Vegas said.
Placing the blame for Jamaica’s harsh economic problems in the 1970s squarely on the PNP, the artiste said that it was time to break the political party’s course. He further stated that followers of the PNP must be freed and brought to the “light.”
“We have some of our brothers and sisters who are sticking with the colour orange, but we affi break dat course and bring dem to the light of the green,” Mr. Vegas said.
He added that the JLP’s work and vision are clear, but he is willing to go door to door in order to spread the message if it is needed.
The I Am Blessed deejay went on to express confidence that St. James Central Member of Parliament (MP) Heroy Clarke will be reelected, helping the JLP to a third consecutive victory.
While he praised Prime Minister Andrew Holness as a relatable leader, Mr. Vegas criticised opposition leader Mark Golding.
“A si some of my brothers and sisters from the other side saying to give the opposition leader a chance… Wi cannot gi nuh chance to somebody weh lie to wi bout everyting. If a man lie bout which part him come from, him will lie to you bout everyting.
Additionally, Mr. Vegas appeared to throw shade at attorney Isat Buchanan, highlighting his criminal past. Buchanan, who is currently a PNP candidate for eastern Portland, recently criticised Mr. Vegas for publicly supporting the JLP.
Watch Mr. Vegas give his speech at the press conference below.
