When artists aren’t having their music co-opted by candidates to promote their election campaigning, they are often keen to voice their musical opposition to the political process.

The video above, features two artists doing the latter. It’s filmed by David Chen, a Jamaican living in London, who devotes his energies to producing and broadcasting Caribbean content online.

Regularly updated, his YouTube channel not only features footage filmed on his visits to Jamaica, but also keeps in touch with issues affecting London’s Caribbean.

One of the most prolific Caribbean persons online, David’s efforts are appreciated by us here at JamaicaElections.com.

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Commissioner and JLP meet
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says its awaiting the decision of the Police Commissioner following a meeting this afternoon with representatives of the party to discuss concerns about political violence.

Opposition Spokesman on crime Derrick Smith and Chairman of the JLP’s taskforce on crime, Colonel Trevor MacMillan met with the Commissioner.

The party is also expressing concern about what it says are attacks on its supporters over the last 24 hours.

The JLP claims the incidents are a deliberate strategy to use violence and terror to intimidate its workers and supporters.

The JLP says several of its supporters who were on their way to a Bruce Golding-led motorcade yesterday were blockaded and severely beaten in Bunkers Hill, Clarendon.

In addition it says its candidate for East St. Andrew, Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett and his supporters came under heavy gunfire during a visit to Tavern in that constituency.

Three of Dr. Bartlett’s supporters were reportedly shot and injured during the incident.

In another incident in Canterbury, North West St. James where Dr. Horace Chang is the JLP candidate, three of his workers were reportedly shot in two separate drive-by incidents.

Three persons including a policeman were also shot and killed at a bar owned by a JLP councilor in West Central St. Catherine.

In East Central St. Catherine a driver for the JLP candidate Leslie Campbell and a bartender were also reportedly shot and killed.

MIT probing shooting
The Major Investigation Task Force (MIT) has launched a probe into last night’s shooting near Papine St. Andrew when two female JLP campaign workers were shot and injured.

The women and the JLP candidate for Eastern St. Andrew, Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett were campaigning with the Councillor for the Mona Division Garfield Reid.

The police say when the JLP officials reached a section of Tavern Avenue gunmen opened fire at their vehicles injuring the two women.

MIT head Assistant Police Commissioner Les Green says the matter has been recorded as a case of political violence.

Meanwhile JLP General Secretary, Karl Samuda is claiming last night’s incident was an attempt to murder Mr. Bartlett.

PNP on possible ban
The Electoral Commission has recommended a ban on political meetings and motorcades in the corporate area and St. Catherine.

The recommendation was made during a meeting with police Commissioner Lucius Thomas this morning.

But the PNP wants the Police High Command to thoroughly investigate reports of political violence before deciding on such a ban with General Secretary Donald Buchanan saying that such a ban would disadvantage the PNP.

Meanwhile the PNP says it has cancelled its meeting set for this evening in Linstead, St. Catherine while it awaits the decision of the Police Commissioner.

Mr. Buchanan says the Commissioner’s decision will determine whether the party’s final rally scheduled for Saturday can be held in Cross Roads St. Andrew.

More on St. Catherine killings
Police are yet to determine the motive for last night’s shootings in St. Catherine, which claimed the lives of four people in two incidents.

Special Coporal Gareth Smith, a policeman attached to the Harman Barracks, is among those killed.

Investigators say the policeman and a group of people were at a bar in Fraser’s Content shortly after 10 p.m. when gunmen approached, identified the policeman and opened fire.

The policeman and another man, Gladstone Findlay were killed.

And according to the police another man and a woman from Fraser’s Content were shot and injured.

In another incident in the community of Knowles, Brandon Vernon and Karen Valdin were shot dead by gunmen.

Political violence has again reared its ugly head, with the foreign press reporting further instances on the campaign trail. With newspaper polls placing both parties in a close race - with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) lead inside or barely ahead of the margin of error - the country hopes that both main parties act in the wider national interest rather than narrow political ambition and do all they can to cool their supporters.

While the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been leading the way in spending heavily on media advertising the People’s National Party (PNP) has been trying some direct methods to reach voters.

We’ve already seen the introduction of ‘Peter Bunting water’ in his Central Manchester constituency. Now a reader from South East St. Andrew comes to us with news that incumbent Member of Parliament Maxine Henry-Wilson has been issuing birthday cards to constituents on their special day.

We want to hear from you, not opinions - as evidenced by our comments section, some readers are full of them - but photographic evidence of other interesting campaign methods.

E-mail: ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com

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Election extends school
The Education Ministry says it will be extending the first term for the next academic year by three days and the second term by two days.

As a result schools will now go on Christmas break on December 19 instead of December 14.

And the mid-term holidays will be cut from three days to one day.

The Ministry says schools will take a break on Ash Wednesday, February 6 and reopen the following day.

The amendments to the school year in both terms will result in an additional five days to the school year.

The Ministry says this will compensate for the one-week delay in the reopening of schools because of the September 3 general election.

Johnson on his poll
Pollster Bill Johnson says the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is gaining more support because the People’s National Party (PNP) has not put forward compelling enough reasons to stay in power:

Stay tuned to Power 106 FM for the results of the seat-by seat polls ahead of Monday’s election.

Parties on leadership poll
JLP Spokesman, Dwight Nelson says he believes the public’s confidence in the Party and its leader, Bruce Golding has grown since the launch of the party’s manifesto.

The latest Gleaner/Bill Johnson poll is indicating that the JLP is now leading the PNP in popular support.

The poll indicates that the JLP has 42 per cent of popular support to the PNP’s 38 per cent.

Mr. Nelson would not comment on the poll results, but he aid Mr. Golding’s response to Hurricane Dean has helped to propel the JLP:

Meanwhile, the poll is also showing that Mr. Golding is leading Portia Simpson Miller as the choice for Prime Minister.

According to the poll, Mr. Golding’s rating is now at 41 per cent while Mrs. Simpson Miller’s stands at 40 percent.

But PNP General Secretary, Donald Buchanan says his party is still confident Mrs. Simpson Miller is the best leader for the country:

The poll which has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent was conducted last weekend – one week after Hurricane Dean struck the country.

One thousand and 8 people were interviewed in 84 communities Islandwide.

OAS team here
Another set of election observers from the Organisation of American States (OAS), has now arrived in the island.

OAS Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, will arrive tomorrow to head the mission for the general election on Monday, September 3.

The OAS says Ambassador Ramdin will consult with high-ranking political and electoral authorities regarding the preparations for the elections.

It also says they will have discussions regarding the challenges caused by Hurricane Dean.

The OAS mission began deploying its monitors on Friday, August 24 with the arrival of the core group of electoral experts.

The observers monitored the vote of the security forces and Election Day workers on Tuesday.

The OAS has expressed satisfaction with the overall organisation of that poll

Report in today’s Miami Herald …

With stars absent, Jamaica race is popularity contest

“PORUS, Jamaica - Jamaica’s first female prime minister, fighting a bruising election battle, is on stage in jeans and a flaming orange baseball cap, pumping her clenched fist into the air and dancing to a throbbing island beat.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller’s backers portray her as a down-to-earth mother figure who favours the poor, while supporters of opposition leader Bruce Golding paint her as a ghetto politician who’s no match for his sophisticated leadership.”

To read the full report click here.

The Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, is scheduled to arrive in Jamaica today to spearhead the regional body’s election monitoring mission.

Ambassador Ramdin will consult with political and electoral figures regarding over preparations and how they may have been affected by Hurricane Dean.

The OAS began deploying its monitors last Friday, with the arrival of the core group of electoral experts who observed security forces and Election Day workers voting on Tuesday, ahead of Election Day on Monday, September 3.

The OAS team expressed satisfaction with the overall organisation of this event and will include its observations in its final report to the OAS Permanent Council after the elections.

Assistant Chief of Mission, Steven Griner, said that the remaining OAS observers are undergoing training ahead of the election, including to sensitise them on the local electoral process.

Some 50 observers from 13 countries of the hemisphere comprise the observation mission, which will be deployed to at least 70 per cent of the 60 constituencies in the country.

The OAS were invited to monitor the polls by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (EOJ) and have so far received funding from Canada and the United States. Other OAS Member countries will provide observers on Election Day.

Jamaica Labour Party takes lead - Portia’s People’s National Party drops two points - Poor hurricane relief hurts ruling party
With the general election just four days away, the Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has opened up a four percentage point lead in popular support over the Portia Simpson Miller-led People’s National Party (PNP), which appears to have suffered a political fallout in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean.

Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) reports 72 per cent turnout on Tuesday
Of the 33,288 persons enumerated to vote on Tuesday when membersof the security forces and election day workers cast their ballots, 24,030 exercised their franchise. Professor Errol Miller, chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), noted that this represented a 72 per cent voter turnout. A few glitches on election day prevented some persons from casting their ballots.Meanwhile, despite damage to 246 polling stations by Hurricane Dean, officials at the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) and the ECJ said yesterday that voting in next Monday’s general election will not be affected.

JAMAICA VOTES - Country can afford to abolish health fees
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller recently suggested that the Opposition Leader follow the advice of popular deejay Mr. Vegas and ‘tek weh’ himself. She was referring to what has been the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) habit of making big promises more concerned with impressing voters than budgeters. After education, health has become the second issue area which, in this election season, has had a great philosophical question attached to it: ‘To fee, or not to fee?’ The People’s National Party (PNP) sings a mantra of ‘Nothing is free. Everything must cost us something’, while the Jamaica Labour party (JLP) continues to say elliptically, ‘We can find the money’.

Norman Horne: I have the support and the numbers
Norman Horne, who is representing the PNP in South East St. Elizabeth, changed his political coat when he resigned as a member of the PNP prior to the 2002 general elections and switched allegiance to the JLP in a bid to enter Parliament on the party’s ticket. He, however, lost the contest to the PNP’s John Junor in Central Manchester, receiving 7,209 votes to Mr. Junor’s 8,331.

Rosemarie Shaw: Trying to take back seat for PNP
Forty-eight-year-old Rosemarie Shaw is the PNP’s candidate for West St. Thomas. Ms. Shaw was a JLP Councillor in the 1990s and served as Mayor of Morant Bay.

Karl Samuda: Will always win his seat
The JLP’s Karl Samuda is the chief turncoat who switched from the JLP in 1990 after being expelled in the wake of the so-called ‘Gang-of-Five’ rebellion against Mr. Seaga’s reportedly autocratic leadership style.

Abe Dabdoub: House-to-house walk signals a win
Abe Dabdoub is no stranger to the political landscape. He has been active in politics since the 1970s. He was president of the JLP youth arm, Young Jamaica, from 1973 to 1975. He entered representational politics when he was elected Councillor for the Vineyard Town Division of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), in the Local Government Elections of 1981. He was also a JLP Senator from 1980 to 1983.

Ian Hayles: I am 100% confident I will win
Thirty-five-year-old Ian Hayles is the PNP candidate for the Hanover Western seat. The one-time president of the JLP affiliate group, Generation 2000 (G2K), was also a JLP caretaker for North Trelawny. He, however, left the JLP in a huff when he also resigned from the party in tow with Horne.

The People’s National Party (PNP) recently launched their own YouTube channel and have posted the above advertisement, ‘At Home with the PNP’.

However what might be more interesting than advertisements by the two main political parties - and you won’t have seen these on the television or heard them on the radio - are political commentaries posted to YouTube by its users.

‘dtcc44′ lambasts the credentials of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding in a lengthy commentary on ‘flip flopping’ (see video above), while ‘RuffWayne’ has posted several including this clip, his most popular, in which he weighs in on the issue of free education.

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GG activates Constituted Authority
Governor General, Professor Kenneth Hall has activated the Constituted Authority ahead of the General Election on Monday, September 3.

Members of the Authority are empowered to halt the election in any constituency. They can also request the Election Court to void an election and hold a fresh one if there are malpractices.

Professor Hall has appointed former President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Dennis Lalor and Justice Ransford Langrin to serve as members.

The four selected members of the Electoral Commission will also make up the Constituted Authority.

They are Chairman of the Commission, Professor Errol Miller; Northern Caribbean University President, Dr. Herbert Thompson; Dorothy Pine McLarty and Justice Clarence Walker.

The appointments are in keeping with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader.

Political commercials accepted
Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair said media houses would be allowed to air and publish political advertisements up to the last day before the election on Monday. There have been doubts as to whether this would be allowed.

Bishop Blair told reporters this morning that his office will not object to the publishing or broadcasting of political advertisements up to Sunday.

Both major political parties have been increasing the number commercials on radio and television as Election Day draws closer.

Voter turnout good … Polling station damage high
Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, Professor Errol Miller is reporting that there was a 72.2 per cent voter turnout among members of the security forces and Election Day workers, yesterday.

Professor Miller revealed that out of 33,288 registered electors, 24,030 voted.

Professor Miller also stated that 246 polling stations were damaged during Hurricane Dean with 154 sustaining major damage.