EXTRA: Gleaner Election News, Tuesday September 4
Written by JamaicaElections.com
GOLDING’S march to Jamaica House
If anything, the victory by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in yesterday’s general election only serves to reaffirm what some pundits have long been saying: that Bruce Golding is Jamaica’s luckiest politician alive today.
Blunder steals Portia’s thunder
Decades from now, historians will have trouble fathoming why Portia Simpson Miller - with her approval ratings at a stratospheric level - did not call an election shortly after taking over from P.J. Patterson as leader.
Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) under fire for missing names
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has come under fire for a failure to ensure, as promised, that the names of electors would not be left off the voters’ list during yesterday’s election proceedings in Central Manchester.
Enthusiasm out west
The energy which had been building throughout the election campaign culminated in much enthusiasm in western Jamaica yesterday as thousands of voters turned out to exercise their franchise in Jamaica’s 15th general election since universal adult suffrage in 1944.
Golden agers take the time
Two senior citizens, John Kelley, 87, and his wife, Tilida, 92, of Newlands, Yallahs, St. Thomas, participated yesterday in the country’s 15th general election.
Violence rocks SE ‘St Bess’
Voting got off to a smooth start amid tight Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) security at the B.B. Coke High School in Junction, South East St. Elizabeth, with persons arriving at the polling stations from before 6:00 a.m. Polling officially started at 9:00 a.m.
T-shirts ‘glam up’ election fashion
Jamaican women are fashionable, but women from inner-city communities are known to take fashion to a whole new level.
Supporters ‘party’ in friendly rivalry
Despite reports of political intimidation and shootings in some constituencies in the Corporate Area, there were still many scenes of jubilation and friendly rivalry among supporters of the nation’s two major political parties yesterday.
Observers Ok polls
With the exception of shooting incidents in the South East St. Andrew and Central Manchester constituencies, and the attempted theft of a ballot box in St. Ann, two observer groups considered yesterday’s general election relatively free and fair.
September 4th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
this was long overdo, and to God be the Glory, poor people can breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you Jesus, You are so good, when men fail, God never fails.
September 4th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I was a good election as the result was very close but once again and from a personal perspective, intimidation was the order of the day.
I have friends who left Canada and came to Jamaica(without my knowing,as I speak so highly about my country), they were ruffed up by JLP thugs as they walk the streets in Montego Bay as tourist, because they were wearing red T-shirt.
They had to plea for their lives and only after someone who presumably have a little sense realised that these people were foreginers.
I have been apologising most profoundly but the deed is already done.
September 4th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Some persons are saying that democracy won, but I know that this election only serves to again ephasize that the poor will always be left behind as we always turn against our own. The media played a great part in their biasness in their comments durng the campaign. I guess everything is really for a price.
September 4th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I think this was long over due I’m happy the people of Jamaica opened their eyes and saw Porsia for who she really is “imcompetent”
September 4th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Jamaica’s future seemed so bleak, from my viewpoint in London where I live.
I visit home 2 or 3 times each year and apart from crime (guns) the lack of oppertunity whether jobs or training just does not seem to exist for the 17 to 30 yearolds in Jamaica.
After 18 years of one party in power there just had to be a change to allow another person (group) to try and work to improve the country.
If I could speak to Bruce Golding Prime (Minister elect) there are 3 things I would plea with him to try and do so as to give our beautiful country a genuine new direction.
1/ Please retain some of the more competent PNP ministers in your Government. Hopefully this would not only maybe help to create a sense of unity but also it would utilise good talent anywhere in Parliament. I do not believe that only JLP supporters can provide all the talent and capability needed to improve Jamaica. Hopefully he will also look outside Parliament and recruit capable people regardless of their political views.
2/ Jamaica has a well trained army at UP Park Camp and I have always wondered which war is this army training and waiting to fight when Jamaica (mainly the police) has been fighting a war on the streets of our country for many years and we do not seem any closer to winning it in the last 30 years.
Certainly it is time to merge the army into one with the police and maybe terming it the Civil Guards. This maybe require new laws and maybe new devisions with reserve sections with tanks etc. not being on the streets everyday. I must point out that force alone cannot end the violence against each other in our country as jobs, education, housing and health all have an impact.
3/ I sincerely hope that the PNP supporters will not be treated as outcasts and second class citizens and an example is set where political victimisation will end.
I will never give up hope for our country and I will come back home permanently eventually.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Hey Gerry,
Sorry to hear about the experience your friends had, but certain things in certain parts of the world at certain times of the year are just not on.
Nobody goes to a country with Muslim fundamentalists and beer bottles in hand walking down their streets, or with women in their impy skimpy’s.
You don’t go to territories with Bloods and Crips in the US and were the wrong colors, and when NY was a crazy place, you didn’t come here and look around like you were ripe for the pickings.
When in Rome, do as the romans do…and it is in your best interest to learn bout the Romans (Jamaicans) before you go to Rome (Jamaica). What are no-no’s and how to avoid doing the things that will piss them off or drive them crazy…
September 5th, 2007 at 10:37 am
As regards the story entitled “Blunder steals Portia’s thunder” I will add my bit. One may not be able to fathom why, but she must have had her reasons for not calling elections much earlier while she enjoyed a bit glory. On a similar albeit less significant note, I am somewhat surprised why anyone would call for general elections during a time when North American tourists and Jamaicans abroad usually gravitate towards the island. The last two weeks or August are prime time as it is the unofficial end of the summer season and “last call” for school children who must find their places in class at the beginning of September. Also, this is the height of the hurricane season which, as most savvy people know, is the end of August – mid September period. One ought to bear in mind that after a storm hits, Mother Nature is not the only one who gets the blame for the ensuing misery, but also the governing party which is responsible for timely recovery efforts. In this case Hurricane Dean dealt a blow and, as expected, affected citizens might have focused their disgust with the current leadership if progress - in terms of quality of life - was slow in coming. If citizens were displeased with other issues regarding governance then this storm which could not have come at a worse time was the straw that broke the camel’s back. (Please notice the narrow margin of victory for the JLP). With that said, I do wish both parties the very best for the future as we look forward to a more united and progressive country. We have the attributes, let’s seize the opportunity!