Jamaica's general election

Jamaica has a lot to be proud of and among the many, is how we remain committed to upholding our strict democratic traditions.

Regarding the general election yesterday, I don't think the most optimistic JLP supporter or the most pessimistic PNP supporter could have expected the results which reflected such a total rejection of the opposition PNP. (49 seats to the JLP and 14 to the PNP). 

Oh yes, Jamaica has had these kinds of results before. For in 1980 it was 51 to 9 JLP voter turnout 86.9%;  1989 45 to 15  PNP voter turnout 78.4%; 1993 PNP 52 to  8 turnout 67%. (Of course, I didn't mention 1983 as that was uncontested). The difference though is that whereas in the previous elections, registered voters turned out in their numbers, yesterday the turnout was a dismal 37%. 

Yes having an election during the corona plague was a challenge but I agreed with the prime minister for not postponing the event because of that disease, as we have to learn to live with it. Maybe a significant number of persons stayed away because they feared getting contaminated but we will never know the extent to which it affected the turnout.

However,  it is not good that 63% of the electorate refused to participate in electing their government.

While I totally agree with the electorate giving Andrew Holness a second term as he has done fairly well as the country's leader, I don't like minority governments or weak oppositions.

One of the greatest problems affecting our country is the prevalence of corruption in our government. 

This was raised during the campaign but the PNP had no moral authority to do so, as they were just  just as corrupt. On the other hand, their leaders have never even tried to deal with the corrupt people in their party. While Holness at least separated some corrupt politicians from their jobs and allowed some investigation, the PNP used the Trump/ Putin strategy.....deny deny and depend on the base to loudly back them up. Further, as long as the stain of Trafigura remains unresolved, the PNP cannot speak about corruption. That is so sad for the country. 

The PNP's main problem leading up to this election was the issue of disunity in the party. I dare say too that the shabby manner in which they treated their former leader, the much loved Portia Simpson-Miller has not gone down well with their base. That I think too was behind Mrs. Simpson-Miller's silence during the campaign and her staying away physically.

But its time to look head,

 As promised by Peter Phillips, the PNP leader, if his party lost he would resign. He did so this leaves his party in a bit of a dilemma for the heir apparent was Peter Bunting and he lost his seat to a newcomer. Of course, the party could go the route of appointing Bunting as party leader and nominating someone who won their seat as, leader of the Opposition in the interim, but I don't think that would be a popular option.

Of the names, I hear being bandied around as possible successors to Phillips are Mark Golding, Phillip Paulwell, Lisa Hanna, Julian Robinson. Of that lot, I think Lisa Hanna would be the best bet but she has an urgent task ahead of her to rebuild her constituency, as in what had always been a solid PNP constituency, she barely won by 14 votes.

If Lisa becomes the PNP leader, the PNP would have a solid record of being an equal opportunity party as she would be the 2nd female leader while the JLP has yet to have one. I am watching that party with great interest for there were 14 brand new ladies elected to parliament under the JLP ticket, so how the cabinet is structured will tell us a lot.  As will their appointments to the senate.

There will be interesting times ahead but I really hope the PNP unifies quickly and becomes an effective opposition as nothing is worse for a country than a government with unchallenged power.

In the meantime, the most urgent task will be to get this damn virus under control, for there had been a spike before and during the campaign, and with the lack of due care during the campaign, I am sure there will be even greater contamination.