Daily Gleaner election news, Wednesday July 18
Written by JamaicaElections.com
Seven kisses for Derrick Smith
More sevens. This time seven is the number of kisses Opposition Leader Derrick Smith got from Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller during the signing of the Political Code of Conduct for the five constituencies within the South St. Andrew Police Division.
PNP education policy nothing new - Opposition
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has accused the People’s National Party (PNP) of being “intellectually dishonest” in announcing it will pay the tuition fees for children at the secondary level whose parents cannot afford to pay.
‘Commit to peace’ - Political candidates urged to be true and sincere
All candidates have been told to be sincere in their claims that they are committed to a peaceful election.
Pastor Renard White, a member of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), yesterday told Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and nine other parliamentary hopefuls that if they “do not possess the desire to be clear, to be clean, and to be upright, I say to you that you are in the wrong business.”
Government of Jamaica, Opposition at odds over National Insurance Fund (NIF) money
Another row is brewing between the Opposition and the Government over the withdrawal of US$15 million ($1.03 billion) from the National Insurance Fund (NIF) to provide a loan to the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) Limited.
Western St Mary - Lack of jobs, poor roads, transportation woes abound
People’s Agenda: Voters in Western St. Mary are chiefly concerned about poor roads while some communities are without piped water.
‘Joshua’ and the rod of correction
Flashback: When Michael Manley defeated Vivian Blake to become president of the People’s National Party (PNP) in 1969, it signalled a changing of the guard.
Early election rules - Candidates could not transport voters to polling stations
In the first general elections held under Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944, a deposit of £50 had to be made on behalf of each candidate. This was forfeited if the candidate polled less than one-eighth of the total number of votes cast in the constituency, or died before the close of the poll, or withdrew, except consequent upon circumstances over which he had no control and which he had no cause to anticipate. Note the use of the word ‘he’ and not ’she’!