Are politicians too dear to care?
Written by Jaevion NelsonLast week the nation witnessed political leaders from the two main parties - the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) - debate election issues, live on national radio and television.
But whether or not they answered on those issues to your satisfaction, perhaps you might remain concerned about one pressing issue - the cost of living.
To put candidates to the test we surveyed PNP and JLP candidates on some basic items.
Some candidates answered our questions with ease and were eager to know afterwards, ‘How did I do? Sounds like I know about the people!’
Some were hesitant in agreeing to the interview. Several had to asking persons around them for help on the cost of bread and bus fare from their constituency to Parade in downtown Kingston.
St. Catherine
Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange – Central (JLP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $100
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $100
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $150 - $200 at a party and $100 at a regular bar
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $3,500 - $5,500 for schools within the constituency and $10-15,000 within the Corporate Area
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. You don’t pay to go to Passa Passa - you just buy out the bar.
Collin Fagan – South East (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $200 up
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $50
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. I don’t drink but I suppose its about $80 - $100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $5,000 - $7,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Don’t know, but I don’t think there is a charge.
Kingston
Dr. Charlton Collie – Central (JLP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $110
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. My constituency is next door to Parade but from Winward Road or Allman Town its $50
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $9,000 - $13,000
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $80 - $100
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Never being there so I don’t know the cost.
Ronald Thwaites – Kingston Central (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $200 depending on the size of the loaf
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $50
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. I don’t drink beer
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $3,500 - $8,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. I really wouldn’t know the cost of admission.
Clarendon
Pearnel Charles – North Central (JLP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. About $120 - $160
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. Wouldn’t be able to tell. It may be about $500
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $5,000 - $6,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Don’t know, didn’t know that they had a charge.
Richard Azan – North West (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. Don’t know
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $200
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $90
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $2500
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Don’t live in Kingston, so I don’t know the cost.
Manchester
Richard Hector – South (JLP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. Don’t know, my wife does the groceries
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $500
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A.$100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $15,000 but it could be less
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Don’t know, about $300.
Paul Lyn – North East (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $110 for a 2lb loaf
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $200
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $6,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Don’t know, but I think it’s free based on my understanding.
St. Ann
Othneil Lawrence – North West (JLP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $100
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $300 - $400
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $5,000 - $11,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. It’s free – you don’t pay.
Lisa Hanna – South East (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $20 - $150
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. From Claremont its $150 and from Nine Miles it’s $70
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $80 - $120
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. Many of the students are on the cost sharing and path programme but it starts from about $5,000 - $7,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Don’t know. When I used to go to parties there was no entry fee, so I am surprised if they do charge now.
St. Mary
Robert Montague – Western (JLP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $110 for a 2lb loaf
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $300
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $6,000 - $7,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. It’s a roadside dance - it must be free.
Harry Douglas – South East (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. Most expensive is a big loaf which costs $200
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. On a bus its $150. On a taxi - $200
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $90 - $120
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. Fees for a top of the line school can go up to $18,000. St Mary High for example is $9,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. I don’t know, but I get the impression that it is free.
St. Andrew
Andrew Holness – West Central (JLP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $100 but the cost depends on the type of bread
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $100 - $150
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. At a dance it costs $100 - $150 and normally it’s $100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $4,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. There is no entry cost.
Maxine Henry-Wilson – South East (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. Don’t really keep tabs with the cost for the different items
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $50
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. Don’t drink beer neither do I buy it a lot
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $6,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Don’t have a clue about that. I don’t even know if you have to pay to be admitted.
St. James
Edmund Bartlett – East Central (JLP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $100 - $150
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $1,000 on minibus and $1,000-plus on the Knutsford Express
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $6,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. I wouldn’t know the cost - I come from country.
Donald Colomathie – East Central (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. Not sure, maybe about $270
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $500 (coming from West Street)
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $80 - $100
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $5,000 - $7,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. Don’t know, I live in Mo’ Bay.
St. Thomas
Fenton Ferguson – East (PNP)
Q. How much does a loaf of bread cost in your constituency?
A. $150 for a large loaf of bread
Q. How much does it cost to travel by bus to downtown Kingston from your constituency?
A. $90 from the Constant Spring Area
Q. How much do your constituents pay for a beer?
A. $80
Q. What is the average cost of High School tuition fees for students in your constituency?
A. $7,000 - $10,000
Q. How much does it cost to get into Passa Passa?
A. I guess it maybe about $400 - $500.
James Robertson - West (JLP)
Mr. Robertson replied that he was unaware of the cost of the items.
“But what I do know is that I am ashamed to know that as a businessman I can’t afford to give my wife enough money to buy the necessary stuff for the house.
“I know that a whopper combo at Burger King is $355, which means that a minimum wage worker cannot afford to take his wife and son for a lunch.
“The cost of a bottle of WATA (one of Jamaica’s most popular brands of bottled water) is $50 and that is frightening. All petrol costs over $50 per litre. It’s a disgrace what the cost of living is.”