On your mark! - 147 vie for election candidacy today
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has indicated that some 147 prospective candidates will today seek to satisfy the requirements under the electoral law to become candidates in the August 27 general election. Today’s activities will put them in the starting blocks to vie for a place in Parliament’s 60-seat House of Representatives.

Clarendon police say no to motorcades today
The threat of political violence and a shortage of manpower have forced the Clarendon police to place a ban on political motorcades in North West Clarendon today.

St Thomas - Jamaica’s forgotten cousin
The People’s Agenda: As the people of Western St. Thomas look forward to another election, there are many questions on their lips.

The Elections of 1959 - ‘One good term deserves another’
On February 2, 1955, Norman Manley was sworn in as Chief Minister of Jamaica as the People’s National Party (PNP) settled down to the challenges of leading the Government for the first time. Manley’s acceptance speech reflected the sense of purpose and commitment to nation building that already characterised his public life, ” I have spent my life on many cases and now I turn my back for good and all on that life. I take into my hands the case of the people of Jamaica before the bar of history, against poverty and need. The case of my country for a better life and freedom in our land.”

Blair warns politicians - Hits at campaigns, abortion, gay marriage
Bishop Herro Blair, the Political Ombudsman and pastor of the Faith Cathedral Deliverance Centre in St. Andrew, yesterday warned politicians that the Church will be watching them closely when campaigning resumes tomorrow.

The Elections of 1962 -’The Resurrection of Bustamante’
The PNP began its second term in office in 1959, having won 29 out of the 49 seats and a record 54.8 per cent of the popular vote. It was the first time since 1944 that the electorate had shown such confidence in an administration.

Battle for classes - JLP grabs at working-class voters, PNP keeps middle-income electors
The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has improved its chances for the August 27 election by grabbing a crucial five percentage points in electoral support among working-class electors between mid-June and mid-July, according to the latest Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll.

JLP protests cheap housing for some officials
In the absence of a policy to govern the rental of state-owned properties, high-ranking officials of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) are protesting the preferential rates enjoyed by officials to the governing People’s National Party (PNP).

Political Ad Watch - PNP nah change course
Maybe it’s the celebratory mood around Emancipation and Independence holidays but both the governing People’s National Party (PNP) and the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have been having heavy rotations on radio of new campaign songs that seem to capture the spirit of the period.

Whose side is Seaga on?
Carla Seaga writes: There is a political rumour mill, which has been very active over the past month and the degree of deviousness with which it is operating can only be because it has a deliberate design to damage the reputation of my husband, Edward Seaga.

A gesture for peace
The heads of the youth arms of the two major political parties endorsed the praise-and-worship service held in Spanish Town yesterday for candidates in the upcoming general election.

Old-timers reflect on past elections
‘Politics nuh nice again,’ was how seasoned People’s National Party (PNP) activist, Venetta Samuels, described today’s political campaigning in comparison to what she called, the ‘Father Manley and Busta’ time.

NDM candidate pins hopes on ganja legalisation
Conrad Powell, a Kingston attorney-at-law running on the National Democratic Movement (NDM) ticket to represent the South East St. Elizabeth constituency, has put ganja at the centre of his campaign for the constituency.

No to free health care - MAJ
Complete removal of user fees in hospitals - as proposed by the Jamaica Labour party (JLP) - is not prudent at this time, according to Dr. Alverston Bailey, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica

Debating the issues
The two leading political parties have agreed to debate the issues starting next Wednesday. But do you know how the Jamaica 2007 Electoral Debates are to be structured? Look out for The Gleaner’s ‘A Complete Guide to the Jamaica 2007 Electoral Debates’ in Outlook magazine, inside tomorrow’s Sunday Gleaner.

EARLY ELECTION RULES - Legal conduct during the silly season
Spirit licensed premises were required to close on election days. The relevant regulation stated that “every person who is the holder of any wholesale licence, town retail licence, village retail licence, or tavern licence granted under the Spirit Licence Law shall take all necessary steps to cause such premises to be closed to the public on Election Day during the hours between the opening and the closing of the poll”.

45 MILESTONES (1962-2007): 45 years of nationhood
After 13 years as president of the People’s National Party and Prime Minister of Jamaica, P.J. Patterson retired from public life in 2006.

‘Cult politics’ - Clergyman says party supporters will do anything to show allegiance
Political parties have been labelled as cults by a prominent clergyman, because of the slavish manner in which supporters adhere to party practices.

The ancestors send a message
Claiming to be the medium for our ancestors, Yoruba priestess, Dorette Abrahams, said there need to be some crucial changes in the political and economic structure of Jamaica, if the nation’s people intend to truly make their forefathers proud.

Cops probe ‘political’ killings
With general elections scheduled for the end of this month, the police said they were still trying to determine whether five fatal shootings in the Corporate Area last month were politically motivated.

Politicians go to church
Both Major political party leaders and their proposed candidates for Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine have committed to worshipping this Sunday at the Faith Cathedral Deliverance Centre in Kingston, under an arrangement through the Office of the Political Ombudsman.

Oh for the days of sticks and stones - and even urine!
Campaigning with Alexander Bustamante: Legends are usually told about people after they die. Not so with Bustamante. Indeed, he related some of them himself and it was difficult to know which were real and which were fiction.

Employment, development the people’s cry
West Kingston residents say unemployment and development of the constituency are the two main issues they want their Member of Parliament to address after the August 27 general election.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) proposes body to oversee pensions
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is proposing to establish a pension commission as an independent regulatory body to oversee the administration of all pension schemes, public and private.

Swap cops for civilians - JLP
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it will, if it becomes the next government, be pushing to have some duties traditionally reserved for the police placed in the hands of civilians.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to focus on minor roads
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will be committing its attention to the island’s minor roads, if it is successful at the polls come August 27, according to the party’s transport spokesperson, Mike Henry.

AD WATCH - Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) airs new ad
As Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding was launching the party’s manifesto Monday for the August 27 general election, the constantly humming JLP advertising machinery put out a new TV advertisement to reinforce a major theme of the campaign.

Tourist town growing too fast
The constituency of North East St. Ann is best known for being the home of the world famous Dunn’s River Falls, strategically located in almost the centre of the constituency.

Bunting launches personal campaign
One new PNP roll out was an ‘affirming’ advertisement for the PNP candidate for Central Manchester, Peter Bunting, who aired what we believe to be the first TV commercial for an individual candidate in the campaign so far.

MILESTONES - 2005: Edward Seaga retires
Edward Seaga, leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) since 1974 and Leader of the Opposition (1974 to 1980, and 1989 to 2005) retired from active politics after a career of 46 years.

Paulwell expresses deep regret at Solutrea’s pull-out
Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell on Tuesday expressed “deep regret” at the decision of Solutrea to pull out of Jamaica.

Parties red-flagged - Ombudsman says orange and green graffiti must go
Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair yesterday demanded that all political candidates remove their party flags, posters, graffiti and paraphernalia within the various constituencies by this weekend.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to extend student loan repayment period
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it would extend the loan repayment period of the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) to 15 years and increase the moratorium period after students graduate to one year if it were to form the next government.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) pledges to enforce Political Code of Conduct
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says if it forms the next government it will give teeth to the Political Code of Conduct by enacting into law provisions that speak to the disqualification of candidates who are found guilty of offences relating to the conduct of elections.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) embraces change to reduce court backlog
Committing itself to a 10-year justice reform programme proposed by the Jamaica Justice Reform Task Force, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it plans to move swiftly, if elected to form the next government, to remove the more than 400,000 backlog of cases now before the courts.

People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker granted bail
Errol Lamey, the People’s National Party (PNP) councillor/caretaker for the Mount Salem Division in St. James, has been granted $1 million bail.

Paulwell cleared on Solutrea - Cabinet review team finds nothing “untoward”
A Cabinet review team, set up to investigate the awarding of a telecoms license to Solutrea Jamaica Limited, on Monday absolved Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell of any wrong doing in the matter.

CENTRAL WESTMORELAND - Residents demand jobs of new Central Westmoreland Member of Parliament
As the country awaits the general election on August 27, constituents in Central Westmoreland believe the main focus of their new Member of Parliament (MP) should be the creation of more job opportunities.

People’s National Party (PNP) maintains ‘no talks’ stance Despite two alleged politically motivated acts of violence on the weekend, the People’s National Party (PNP) has maintained that they will not have talks with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), unless the Political Ombudsman or the Church mediates the discussion.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) condemns Clarke’s controversial statement
Members of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spent much time at a rally in Independence Square, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, last Sunday night, lambasting People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for Central Westmoreland, Roger Clarke.

More promises - Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) unveils plans for offshore banking centre
Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Bruce Golding, yesterday unveiled a plethora of proposals in the party’s manifesto to create a more business-friendly environment, targeting job-creating investments, chief among them being an offshore business centre to be located in downtown Kingston.

Solutrea withdraws million-dollar venture
The country’s coffers received a massive $500 million blow yesterday after Solutrea Jamaica Ltd., the last company to be granted a mobile license, announced that it would be pulling out of Jamaica.

Mayor Lee unsure about Portmore as 15th parish of Jamaica
Much reservation surrounds the announcement made by Opposition Leader Bruce Golding that he will declare Portmore Jamaica’s 15th parish if the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) wins the August 27 general election the idea is not new, persons are questioning the move.

A rough road for Paulwell
Phillip Paulwell had great ambitions when he entered representational politics in the early 1990s. In fact, the new Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal said he wanted to be Prime Minister by the time he reached 45.

Housing shortage, training facilities: an MP’s priority
With a brand new international sporting stadium, new police and fire stations, an almost new hospital along with four new hotel complexes, North Trelawny could be regarded as being on the fast track.

Churches to pray for peace at polls
While some churches have not wholeheartedly heeded the Prime Minister’s call for seven days of prayer and fasting from July 31 to August 6, the Hands Across Jamaica for Righteousness group and several church leaders have agreed to come together today to join hands in a massive prayer session in Rose Town.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) set to launch manifesto today
The launch of the manifesto, to be held this afternoon at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, comes less than one week before Nomination Day, August 7, and exactly four weeks before the general election on August 27.

Protruding Labourite killed in motorcade
A Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporter was killed in a motor vehicle accident in St. Elizabeth yesterday afternoon.

Farmers plant seed of hope
North West Clarendon will be a tough battle-ground for incumbent People’s National Party (PNP) candidate Richard Azan and challenger, the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Michael Stern.

Common woes await
Whoever takes South East Clarendon will have his work cut out in tackling the litany of woes common to most constituencies islandwide - bad roads, unemployment and skills training.

St Andrew residents march for peace
Concerned residents from rivalling Maxfield Avenue, Whitfield Town, Greenwich Town and other communities along Spanish Town Road in St. Andrew walked together in a peace march as they combined their voices to denounce the violence in their communities on Thursday.

Short on trust - Simpson Miller - 61%, Golding - 47%
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Bruce Golding are each being handicapped on the campaign trail by significant levels of distrust among electors - 33 per cent and 43 per cent, respectively, according to a Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll.

Development first on JLP agenda if elected
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it will streamline the development process in its first 100 days in office if elected on August 27.

Speaking at a recent Gleaner Editors’ Forum, Shirley Williams, Shadow Minister for Industry, Commerce and Investment, said the JLP would focus on urban renewal, with a view to implementing existing development orders. According to her, two thirds of the parishes have such orders which stipulate certain developmental regulations and land-use policies. However, not many are followed, while some are outdated.

JLP promises to review Portmore toll - plans to introduce railway as alternative
Opposition Leader Bruce Golding says a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government will renegotiate the Portmore leg of Highway 2000, which has been a source of controversy between the current administration and residents of the St. Catherine municipality since its opening in July last year.

Political violence kills two in North Central St. Andrew
Infant battles for life in hospital; (Jamaica Labour Party) JLP blames ruling party thugs.

While the stand-off about peace talks between the leadership of the People’s National Party (PNP) and rival Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) continues, two persons, alleged supporters of the JLP, were murdered on the weekend.

‘I am going there to win’ - Dennis Messias
Under the Representation of the People Act, candidates must pay $3,000 to be nominated in order to run as a candidate for an election. The money is only refunded if the candidate polls one eighth of total votes cast.

After the 2002 general election, Dennis Messias lost his nomination deposit - all of $3,000.

‘No dynasty lives on forever’ - Christopher Munroe
Karl Samuda has served for over two decades as Member of Parliament for North Central St. Andrew. He says it is mathematically impossible for anybody to beat him in the constituency.

However, don’t tell that to Dr. Christopher Munroe. He believes that there is no dynasty that lives on forever, and that the 2002 election victory was Mr. Samuda’s last.

POLITICAL AD WATCH - Will Golding’s flip flop his chances?
The credibility of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader, Bruce Golding, which has always been a subtext of People’s National Party (PNP) campaign strategy on the platform, has emerged from the shadows into media mainstream with a newspaper advertisement casting doubt on the trust-worthiness of the Opposition Leader.