Jamaica votes: Out in the open - Voting irregularities through a presiding officer’s eyes
The Election Day experience of a presiding officer who has worked in both Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People’s National Party (PNP) garrisons.

Garrison voting vs constitutional rights in Jamaica
The voters speak: How political parties have ensured their grip on power in garrison constituencies by ensuring votes are cast their way.

Jamaica votes - Political underdogs
For the People’s National Party (PNP) a confident Rohan Silvera is running against Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in her strong seat of Central St. Catherine.

For the JLP Claude Riddell does not believe he is an underdog in his campaign to unseat Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips, Member of Parliament for East Central St. Andrew.

Seaga says no to fixed election date
Former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Edward Seaga has contradicted his successor Bruce Golding.

Gleaner Editors’ Forum - Next Government must take health, education by the horns
Health and education should be prioritised by whichever party forms the next government, advises guidance counsellors, doctors and nurses.

Many people think that with an election there has to be violence; as if it is compulsory for Jamaican politics.

But will this be the case during Election 2007? To find out Gleaner Online visited the politically divided Grants Pen community, which sits within the North East St. Andrew constituency.

One side ‘Bottom Gully’ supports the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament Delroy Chuck, while ‘Top Gully’ is loyal to the People’s National Party (PNP) and its caretaker Hugh Thompson.

Photo by Jermaine Evans: A mural depicting PNP and JLP supporters shaking hands painted at the entrance to Morgan Lane in the community of Grants Pen, North St. Andrew.

The community has enjoyed peace in recent years thanks to efforts by residents, churches and community policing funded by the private sector and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The political parties have also worked together to erase political graffiti.

Grants Pen remains stigmatised by violence although the area went over a year without a reported murder during 2005/6, following the murder of seven-year-old Shaneal Raffington, which outraged the community and spurred peacemaking. Nonetheless police have seized few guns and residents have reported rising political tensions.

However: “No tension, jus’ life and mobility … a dat we a campaign fa right now,” was the immediate reply of one resident who identified himself as a JLP supporter. He was sitting among a group of men relaxing on the borderline, ‘Pon di gully side’, on Grants Pen Avenue.

“Di whole place under a global order” added his friend.

Another man who identified himself as Carl said peace was being held between Bottom Gully and the “man dem from up di road” – the PNP.

But he added: “This community is a community weh tings can happen at anytime, you can’t predict nutten … so far wi no see nutten, but anytime, anytime tings can happen.”

Entering Top Gully and the ‘rival’ PNP Morgan Lane the first thing a visitor will notice is not evidence of politics but artistic talent in the community – non-political murals which enliven the Lane. Elderly resident Rose Grandison was sat in her chair in the shade enjoying the quiet of the afternoon.

“I don’t believe they are going to have a war time … they are against it immensely,” said Mrs. Grandison of the young men on both sides. However in Morgan Lane they were less willing to be interviewed.

A short walk further down the Avenue is the Grants Pen ‘Model Community Police Station’; unique in Jamaica it also houses a health centre, Internet café, community meeting facility and other amenities. The station has been held as a symbol of community transformation perhaps more than any other development in the community.

“The police have implemented various patrols within the area, foot, bicycle and mobile patrols. Them no gi criminals no time fi do nutten, so as soon as somebody think fi do something the police ago deh deh, so dem no get no time,” said Daniel Markland, Public Relations Officer for the police youth club.

The church, organised under the banner of the Greater Grants Pen Ministers’ Fraternal, will be continuing among other efforts monthly meetings with police and political representatives to maintain peace.
“I am very optimistic that peace will be maintained throughout the Election period and onward,” said Pastor Ian Muirhead, who heads the group.

Securing a secret ballot
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) will enforce new legislation against open voting to help convince voters their ballots can be kept secret, says Director of Elections Danville Walker, speaking yesterday at a Gleaner Editors’ Forum.

Mandatory sentence not recommended by Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission denies recommending imposing mandatory sentencing for persons who vote openly during elections.

Paulwell under pressure to resign
Again. Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman for telecommunications Clive Mullings is calling for the resignation of opposite number Minister Phillip Paulwell whom he accused of having an incestuous relationship in the granting of a telecoms licence to Solutrea Jamaica Ltd, who then failed to pay for their license.

Deejay Horace ‘L.A.’ Lewis, the self-proclaimed ‘Seven-Star General’, has weighed into the ‘Sevens’ controversy.

L.A. was keen to defend Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller who was criticised for repeatedly mentioning the number seven and its Biblical significance during her speech to announce the election on August 27, at a People’s National Party (PNP) rally in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew on Sunday.

“I are the seven!” pronounced the deejay who is still better known for his efforts of self-promotion; rather than the musical career he is promoting. He said he empathised with Mrs. Simpson Miller since when he choose his own ‘Seven’ tag, others in the music industry responded that it was a number associated with Satan.

Photo by Kerry-Ann Bercher: Horace ‘L.A.’ Lewis

“Just as how God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, election day is perfect timing,” said L.A.

In typical unconventional fashion he suggested she should follow his example in the music industry and bridge the political divide by forming an alliance with retired Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Edward Seaga – the two politicians are thought to have a mutual respect, although Mr. Seaga is retired.

“You know what I think? If Portia and Seaga work together, nothing can hold back Jamaica. Just like how Bounty Killer is the Five-Star General and I am the Seven-Star General and Bounty is the head of the Alliance and I am the head of the Federation, but we are still in the same army and we work together same way,” he said.

Website of ‘Reggae Superstar’ L.A. Lewis

Pearnel, US diaspora group at odds
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for North Central Clarendon Pearnel Charles has become embroiled in a dispute with United States Diaspora group Jamaica Forward.

This after Mr. Charles questioned the right of People’s National Party (PNP) candidate Ralph Thomas, a returned resident from the United States, to make comments on the situation in that constituency, since he has not been on the ground for as long as him.

Open ballot legislation welcomed - Walker
Director of Elections Danville Walker believes new legislation will eliminate bogus voting after banning the display of ballots by voters.

‘We want to be a tourist parish too!’
The People’s Agenda: The Gleaner’s series on what the voters are thinking in each constituency. Today is the turn of Central St. Mary.

‘Fixed election date not possible’
Constitutional lawyer Dr. Lloyd Barnett on the proposal by Opposition Leader Bruce Golding to institute fixed election dates, if the JLP forms the next government.

WHAT ONE SAYS … WHAT THE OTHER HEARS
New feature allows undecided voters to air their views on what politicians and other public figures are saying on issues raised during the election campaign.

Today: Mr. Golding’s offer of free education for primary/secondary school students and reimbursement of fees to parents who have already paid.

PG-18 event
After witnessing the small children dressed in PNP colours for the party rally in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew on Sunday, one reader recommends children be shielded from political activity until they reach voting age.

With both main political parties touting their ‘e-credentials’ it remains to be seen how effective Internet campaigning has become and who is more popular online. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) recently announced that its website has received 1.2 million ‘hits’ since it launched November last year while the People’s National Party (PNP) claims 119,693 ‘visitors’ since July 2001.

However these statistics can be misleading. Firstly the numbers have to be verified and secondly the statistics are made from different measurements; browsing a web page can generate several hits whereas visitors to a website are single – in other words, visitors are worth more than hits.

Photo by Ross Sheil: Are politicians getting to grips with the Internet?

Both parties are aware of the potential offered by the Internet to reach younger voters who are increasingly living their lives on social networking websites such as Hi5, MySpace and Facebook. Earlier this year The Gleaner reported on an Internet prankster who had posted Hi5 profiles impersonating Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and her predecessors P.J. Patterson and Edward Seaga.

While the elderly Mr. Seaga was unaware of Hi5 – he took the joke in his stride – the JLP whom he once led, are making full use of the technology.

The JLP has a channel on YouTube, the video-sharing website, with the two parts of its infamous ‘Not Changing the Course’ advertisement – mocking Mrs. Simpson Miller and her government – viewed almost 6,000 times in total.

The PNP have not yet officially stepped into the YouTube arena. The most popular PNP-related video on the site, featuring deejay Cutty Ranks performing a tribute to Michael Manley*, has 21,909 views. However as at the rallies themselves this may just reflect a greater public interest in hearing what a deejay has to say, rather than the politicians sharing the stage.

If the parties listen to young voters like 20-year-old Corve DaCosta then by the next election at least - when broadband access will have become more widespread - they will be increasingly targeting the Internet audience. Gleaner Online spoke to Mr. DaCosta via instant messenger having located him on the G2K Hi5 group.

“If politicians use the channel appropriately and persuasively I believe it will really sensitise me and other young people who use the Internet,” he said.

Additional reporting by Jaevion Nelson

*According to the description of the video on YouTube, Cutty Ranks was performing at a PNP rally in 1986. However PNP General Secretary Donald Buchanan said that while the deejay’s music was played at rallies he could not recall him performing in person. Please contact us if you have further information about the video.

Symbols, slogans … effective in politics
Historian Hartley Neita on the use of symbols by the People’s National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)

Prime Minister outlines ambitious western agenda
Improved water supply, roads, electricity, housing and agriculture for Western Jamaica, says Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller

Ombudsman, party leaders to meet again
Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, has convened another meeting with the leaders of the nation’s two main political parties. He did not say why …

Manchester, North East - Not keeping pace with employment
The People’s Agenda: voters on issues in their constituency

1972-1974: Manley, the new Prime Minister
The first years of the first Michael Manley administration

Hottest topics on the cocktail circuit
This week … political gossip

The stress of politics
More political gossip … a marriage is on the rocks

There were surprised looks on the faces of people viewing the price tags on three paintings exhibited in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston.

A portrait of Bob Marley, a face instantly recognisable to tourists was on sale for $35,000, while those of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, two images presumably less marketable from the hotel gift shop, were priced at $70,000.

Photo by Ross Sheil: Paintings of (left to right) Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, the late Bob Marley and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller exhibited at the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston.

“Bob is an icon!” exclaimed one Kingston resident who epitomised the view that the reggae star was being undervalued; sandwiched between the two political leaders. “He has taken this country far away from days gone by when it was nowhere and from that people have wanted to come to this island.”

He valued the politicians at $25,000 each since in his opinion they have not yet made a similar contribution to national development.

Another local observed that with elections pending, artist Junior Moore was being commercially aware. “Typical opportunism from a Jamaican!” he smiled.

None of the above, replied Mr. Moore when contacted by Gleaner Online. He said that having been painted two or three years ago the Marley painting was simply less valuable than the other two portraits, which were completed one month ago.

“I was just thinking of the persons themselves and someone had commissioned me to do Portia and since I had an exhibition I thought I wouldn’t be right to do just one person, so then I put Bruce Golding in,” he explained.

The Hilton is exhibiting 17 of his paintings until the end of this month. The prices of the three paintings mentioned in this article have now been adjusted to $50,000 each.

Founded ten years Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Election (CAFFE) is staffed solely by volunteers who will again act as observers come Election Day, August 27.

With 177 volunteers registered so far CAFFE says is still needs more to preside over polling stations across Jamaica’s 60 constituencies. While this number may sound sufficient it is considerably short of the 1,682 people who volunteered in the 2002 general election - it has a target of 1,850 volunteers this election.

Photo by Jaevion Nelson: Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Election (CAFFE) volunteers Donna Singh and Andrew Gauntlet.

The work of CAFFE would be impossible without voluntary effort, said CAFFE Chairman Dr. Lloyd Barnett. Speaking at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Kingston yesterday he implored more Jamaicans to step forward.

“CAFFE is appealing to all to maintain a peaceful election campaign. We are asking all Jamaica to assist so that we do not plunge into an election campaign period that is characterised by violence, tension and crime,” said Dr. Barnett.

Meetings have been scheduled around the island from today through to the July 19. Training is also being provided for those already registered - people like Donna Singh.

“The experience has been really rewarding and has contributed to my personal growth,” said Ms. Singh, supervisor for the Eastern St. Andrew constituency. She has observed two general elections, one parish council election and one bi-election.

“There is a thing about putting on that bib,” she said. “At the end of the day you feel a sense of achievement.”

The public also appreciate the work, she said, recalling when her car broke down during the 2002 election and members of the public came to her assistance upon recognising her as a CAFFE volunteer.

“This is one of the best ways we can contribute to preserving our democracy,” said Andrew Gauntlet who has been a CAFFE volunteer throughout its ten years of operation. It is the best way to ensure elections are free and fair, added Mr. Gauntlet.

To volunteer for Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Election (CAFFE) telephone: 922-0008-9

Read the related Gleaner article on CAFFE published today

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