POLITICAL AD WATCH - Statistics show JLP gaining on PNP
With just a week of campaigning left (Hurricane Dean permitting) before the August 27 general election, the latest Bill Johnson polls, commissioned by The Gleaner, show the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has gained some four points from among voters who were undecided just four weeks ago.

‘Dean’ could postpone voting of security forces
If damage associated with dangerous category Four Hurricane Dean is catastrophic, the security forces may not vote on Tuesday as planned.

No clear choices - Party candidates in dead heat, electors look to leaders
While party leaders, Portia Simpson Miller and Bruce Golding, continue to show marked differences in personal standings, electors at the constituency level are hard-pressed to identify which candidates of the People’s National Party or the Jamaica Labour Party would perform better as Members of Parliament (MP).

Bunting remains confident
PETER BUNTING, the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for Central Manchester, has dismissed assertions that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will win the seat in the upcoming general election.

Hurricane Dean Watch is the latest blog to be launched by The Gleaner Company.

From there and Go-Jamaica.com you can sign-up for regular updates sent to your cell phone and and for the first time you will be able upload your stories and photos via the blog.

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The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is continuing its series of television advertisements attacking the reputation of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and her People’s National Party (PNP).

‘Life in Portia’s Constituency’ is the latest clip to be posted by the JLP in their seemingly relentless campaign on video-sharing website YouTube.com.

Other videos have been posted on their YouTube channel including ‘Lie Dem Lie’ and ‘The Frustrated Farmer’. ‘Don’t Draw Mi Tongue’ is now their most popular video with over 20,000 views, surpassing the earlier ‘Not Changing Course’ advertisement.

The PNP is yet to post any videos to YouTube but webmaster David White says they will do soon. Meanwhile one user of the site has posted a clip of the PNP’s ‘Straight From The Horse’s Mouth’ advertisement’.

Another user has also posted clips from the leadership debate between Mrs. Simpson Miller and JLP Leader Bruce Golding and the finance/economics debate between Finance Minister Omar Davies and Opposition Spokesman Audley Shaw.

Hurricane Dean has remained on course to make landfall in Jamaica on Sunday, sometime after 8 a.m. The map from the United States’ National Hurricane Centre (see above) shows Dean passing directly over the island.

The hurricane has already killed one person in St. Lucia.

Currently a category three hurricane with 125 miles per hour winds Dean is expected to continue strengthening.

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Dean in Dominica
In Dominica where a hurricane warning remains in effect, several houses have been uplifted following strong winds and heavy rainfall now affecting the island.

Dominica Broadcasting Service reporter Brenton Henry says a number of residents are now in shelters as a result of the effects of the storm.

PM holds disaster meeting
The National Disaster Committee is meeting this hour to assess the country’s readiness for Hurricane Dean.

The meeting is being chaired by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller who heads the committee.

It involves all emergency response agencies include the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the Met Service.

The Parish Disaster Committees, the police, the Fire Department, and the Jamaica Defense Force are also part of the committee.

In the meantime, the Prime Minister says all the necessary measures will be put in place should the hurricane strike.

JLP rally off
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has called off several campaign activities over the weekend because of the impending Hurricane.

These include today’s scheduled Bruce Golding led tour of East Rural St. Andrew and public meeting in Morant Bay, St. Thomas.

Tomorrow’s planned tour of sections of the Corporate Area and Sunday’s public meeting in Half Way Tree square have also been put off.

Yesterday, the People’s National Party (PNP) said it too would be putting of its election activities that were scheduled to take place after the weekend.

However, the party’s general secretary, Donald Buchanan said the regional organisations would continue their work at the local level.

ODPEM ready
the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) says its parish disaster response programme are being mobilized.

The Director General, Ronald Jackson says people in flood prone areas should begin to plan to evacuate their communities should the need arises:

Mr. Jackson says people in flood prone areas should begin to plan to evacuate their communities should the need arises:

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency management Ronald Jackson.

St. Lucia hit
At least one person was killed by Hurricane Dean in St. Lucia

In another incident, two persons were being treated at the Soufriere Hospital on the west coast after a tree fell on their house injuring the occupants.

The island is still under a hurricane watch even as the weather system moves further away from the island.

Last night heavy rains and strong winds pelted the country causing widespread damage.

Una May Gordon, the Eastern Caribbean Representative for the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture says damage assessments could begin today.

In response to yesterday’s Bill Johnson/Gleaner poll, that put the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) two-percentage points behind the People’s National Party (PNP) on 40 per cent, JamaicaElections.com took to the streets for a quick straw poll.

We asked people whether the polls were that significant? Or did they even care? Half of those we spoke said they’d rather the parties stopped campaigning altogether.

Photo by Jermaine Evans: when asked about the polls this resident of George’s Lane in Central Kingston signaled his disinterest by covering his face with his hat.

Passing by a racehorse betting shop at the corner of East Street and East Queens Street, downtown Kingston, we sought to get the opinion of some of the people there.

“How a island-wide thing and nobody no come ask me no question? If an island-wide ting den no everybody fi inna it, mi no believe inna no poll, nor ‘politricks’,” said Doggy a messenger and ‘not-voting’ 45-year-old Rastafarian from Spanish Town.

For the record: Bill Johnson polls are conducted within 84 communities across all 14 parishes with a total of 1008 persons being interviewed. There is an error margin of plus or minus three per cent.

Others doubted the validity of polling as an accurate science in Jamaican elections: “A whole heap a yute no come up fi vote yet, so dem poll deh cant right, dem affi wait till election day fi see di real polls,” said Damey, a 27-year-old, PNP-aligned, factory worker from August Town.

When asked why the JLP have gained in the polls and why the PNP have stood still Greg, a 30-year-old ‘hustla’ from West Kingston, stood by his Member of Parliament, JLP Leader Bruce Golding.

“The JLP a my party, but mi no talk bias, mi love the party, and see true Bruce a mek nuff promise weh him can’t fulfill, some ‘band wagonist’ a jump on pon the JLP bus, but Bruce fi lef’ him betray di party already.”

“The whole a dem a trickster,” added Doggy.

Another Bruce, this time a 60-year-old retired driver, from West Kingston, votes for the PNP: “The PNP is a good party, but the reason why them a stand still right yah now a because dem a start too much tings and nah finish it, mi love di party, mi a vote fi dem from ever since, but we need some more progress.”

Brace for ‘Dean’
With the possibility that Hurricane Dean could be in Jamaica’s territorial waters by Sunday, the Meteorological Service has advised fishers and other marine operators that weather conditions are expected to steadily deteriorate during the next 48 to 72 hours.

Preaching politics
While many people believe that religion should be kept separate from politics, reference to religion on the campaign trail suggests that the country’s political leaders are of a different view.

All 146 candidates legitimate - Walker
Director of Elections and member of the Electoral Commission, Danville Walker, has advised that all 146 candidates for the August 27 general election have been properly nominated.

Political meetings banned in troubled constituencies
The candidates of the two major political parties have supported the decision of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) to ban the staging of political meetings and motorcades in the troubled West St. Thomas and South East St. Elizabeth constituencies.

Organisation of American States (OAS) observers for election day
Election day proceedings have been given a boost with the addition of a group of independent observers from the Organisation of American States (OAS).

The United States’ National Hurricane Centre (NHC) is projecting that Hurricane Dean will make landfall in Jamaica before 2 p.m. on Sunday, nine days before Election Day, August 27. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has called a meeting of the National Disaster Committee for tomorrow.

In a statement issued by her office today, the Prime Minister said the meeting was necessary to ensure a swift recovery following the storm, which has reached category one status with wind speeds of 90 miles per hour. The NHC has warned that Dean could strengthen into a category three storm by Sunday with winds of up to 130 mph.

The Jamaica Constitution allows for an election date to be delayed by up to 30 days following the impact of a natural disaster. You can track the progress of Hurricane Dean via Go-Jamaica’s weather site.

Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) are still looking for Jamaicans to come forward and volunteer as observers on Election Day, August 27.

Persons will be able to volunteer no later than August 21, when CAFFE holds its last training session. Sessions are being conducted throughout the parishes and observers will get their first taste of elections when they monitor Election Day workers voting on August 21.

CAFFE still wants to achieve its objective of 2,000 volunteers, says Fabian Brown, Director and Parish Coordinator of the St. Andrew chapter.

“We are closer to the 2,000 which is what we would like to field but that is a minimum; so as many Jamaicans who are interested, we would invite them to come forward,” said Mr. Brown.

For more information: telephone CAFFE on 922-0008 or toll-free 1-888-462-2333.

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Chang on polls
Political commentator Kevin O’Brien Chang says the People’s National Party (PNP) must move swiftly to stop the gains being made by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

He says the PNP should place keen focus on improving their advertising campaign and try to win the support of more young electors:

James on dual citizenship
JLP Candidate for West St. Thomas James Robertson is refuting claims that he has dual citizenship or is a green card holder of the United States.

Yesterday, the PNP reported that he is among nine JLP candidates who have dual citizenship.

However, Mr. Robertson is refuting this and says he has referred the matter to his lawyer.

Meanwhile speaking on Power 106 FM Independent Talk, Solicitor General Michael Hylton says it could be finally decided in the courts whether candidates has dual citizenship before any action can be taken.

Political dead heat on
Gleaner pollster Bill Johnson says the JLP’s favourability rating is expected continue trending upward.

His latest survey is indicating that the JLP’s is in a dead heat with the PNP eleven days before the general election.

Mr. Johnson’s poll indicates that the support for the JLP is now up to 38 per cent age points from the 34 per cent recorded in mid-July.

The JLP’s 38 per cent is just two points behind the 40 per cent that the governing party PNP now has.

But with a polls margin of error of plus or minus three per cent, Mr. Johnson says the PNP and the JLP are statistically tied.

Last weekend, Mr. Johnson and his team polled 1,008 people in 84 communities islandwide.

A detailed analysis of the findings indicates that of the persons interviewed, nine per cent were undecided electors.

Another 11 per cent said they did not intend to vote, and two per cent did not to comment.

Bruce on journalists
JLP Leader Bruce Golding has urged supporters to show respect to journalists covering the election campaign.

Speaking at a JLP rally in St. Ann’s Bay last night Mr. Golding also denounced two recent incidents involving JLP supporters and journalists.

He told the rally that journalists have an important role to play in an election.

On Saturday a member of a TVJ news crew was hit with a bottle of water while covering a JLP meeting in Montego Bay.

Yesterday a reporter from North Coast Times had her camera smashed by a flag waving JLP supporter during a tour of North West St. Ann.