Power 106 election news, Thursday August 30
Written by JamaicaElections.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