Gleaner election coverage election news, Sunday July 22
Written by JamaicaElections.com
PNP stays on course - Battle on for middle-age voters, JLP attracting more youth, PNP solid among elderly
With general election set for August 27, the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) and Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have maintained their relative standings in public opinion during the past four weeks. But each party has increased its individual share of electoral support, according to the results of a recent Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll.
Johnson’s poll, conducted on July 14 and 15 among 1,008 people in 84 communities across the island, measured electoral support for the PNP at 40 per cent and 34 per cent for the JLP.
Thwaites’ ban for unity of the church – Archbishop
Archbishop Lawrence Burke says his decision to ban Deacon Ronnie Thwaites from the pulpits of the Roman Catholic Church is grounded in his belief that politics and ministry do not mix if the church is to remain united.
McGill’s date with destiny
If it were horse racing and MikeHenry and Dr. Neil McGill were the only charges lined up for the derby, bookmakers would be offering odds of 1-9 for Henry to win. Simply put, he would have to fall into a huge hole to lose.
McGill, of the People’s National Party (PNP), is digging such a hole for the elderly Henry, of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP), but he knows no matter how skilfully he does it, Henry might find ways to evade it. Both men are contesting the Central Clarendon seat for which Henry has been the Member of Parliament (MP) since 1980.
Peter Sangster says he’s ready to unseat Phillip Paulwell
His granduncle, Sir Donald Sangster, led Jamaica as Prime Minister for three months before his death in April of 1967. His cousin, Kingsley, has sat in the country’s Parliament, but never Astil or Derrick. Peter, a branch of the Sangster tree, believes he, like Sir Donald, will make his way into Gordon House, an elected member.
Peter Sangster, who is running on a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ticket, takes on the People’s National Party (PNP) Phillip Paulwell for the East Kingston and Port Royal seat. Even though he barely got back his deposit money when he first contested in 2002, Sangster is confident that he will factor among the winners after the August 27 general election.
JLP makes first strike
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been on the campaign trail and advertising since last August, starting with a series of television spots focusing on Golding as a family man.
Battle in the east
An interesting battle seems to be shaping up in Western St.Thomas bet-ween incumbent Member of Parliament James Robertson of the Jamaica Labour party (JLP), and the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate Rosemarie Shaw.