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Respect the strength of democracy
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner : Wednesday | September 5, 2007
Milton Walker, Senior Reporter - The Voice
Jamaicans in the United Kingdom have been hailing the conduct, if not the outcome, of the general elections held in the island nation on Monday.
"I think the people have exercised democracy in their voting and we must respect that," said Mavis Stewart, president of the Association of Jamaicans in the U.K. "As a young nation we must respect the strength of our democracy which has been reflected in the result."
But Beverly Lindsay, a Jamaican living in Birmingham, said she was a little surprised by the result.
"We thought the previous Prime Minister, Mrs. Simpson Miller, would have won her own mandate," said Lindsay, who runs a travel agency in Britain's second largest city.
Some leaders in the Jamaican community were reluctant to speak, seemingly preferring to wait until the results were conclusive.
Lindsay picked up on the result and suggested that the country was evenly divided and hoped the "the incoming and outgoing governments will respect the wishes of the people."
Lindsay expressed the hope that "the new government will take up the positive and good things that the previous government had established and move them forward for a safe and peaceful Jamaica".
Levi McDonald, a Jamaican living in South East London was more philosophical.
"I am glad it wasn't a landslide, then you will get better governance," said McDonald. "The narrower the margin, the better for the country."
McDonald went to Smithville Primary in Clarendon with newly elected Member of Parliament for Northern Clarendon Laurie Broderick.
McDonald, who says he is a staunch follower of the People's National Party, led by outgoing Prime Minister Simpson Miller, blamed those around her for her defeat.
"I think her advisors are the culprits; she was badly advised and her MPs didn't supporter her," he said. He suggested that Simpson Miller should have gone to the electorate shortly after she became leader of the PNP sustaining her popularity.
"It's impossible for a leader to sustain her popularity. Get an election going when you are in the ascendancy," he declared. However, analysts argued that it might have been difficult for her to go to the polls at a time when the party was still trying to heal the wounds from a divisive leadership election.
McDonald suggested the Trafigura issue, which saw the then ruling party forced to return a $30 million donation from the Dutch oil trading firm which lifts oil Jamaica receives under a concession agreement from Nigeria hurt the Simpson Miller-led administration. Meanwhile, Mavis Stewart thanked the PNP for its efforts to develop Jamaica.
"I hope that the incoming party will continue in a spirit of nationhood and partnership for the growth and development of our beloved Jamaica," said Stewart.
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