Lisa Hanna
20 06 2007
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
I just have to put in my 2 cents worth about this issue. I don’t know the lady and yes she has her degrees, one of which is a Masters in Communication, but excuse me please….what does Lisa Hanna know about government? The Government of Jamaica, with taxpayers’ money, finances 80% of UWI tuition for certain degrees. Couldn’t they have gone to UWI and scout persons who are pursuing a Masters in Poltical Science, Public Administration, Government, Development Studies, Gender Studies etc.? At least let taxpayers feel as if they are getting their money’s worth? Why Lisa Hanna? Is what so? Let me just say that I do not support the way in which she was rammed down the throat of her would be constituents. It goes against democracy, something that Jamaicans treasure! Anyway, I am still trying to figure out how she got this post overnight. Let’s see. Lisa Hanna may have been Miss World 1993, but is that sufficient? Yes, she builds a school or 2 or 10, is that sufficient? Does she truly understand the issues that rural folk have? Does she understand the poverty that has plagued these people since independence? Does she understand that the people don’t want an ex-pat or better yet, a visiting Plantation Owner? What makes it worst is that the woman was not even a registered a voter, member of the PNP and had no clue how to go about registering herself to vote…..is she for real? People…..how can this be? Somebody must have made a hefty contribution to the PNP….It has to be that! Do you know that up to the end of May she was a member of G2K, the JLP’s youth arm? And what makes me even angrier is the fact that Floyd Morris has the nerve to appear on the news saying that she should be given a chance and yes they hear the constituents but frankly the PNP couldn’t care less! PJ supports this move as well. Portia says God told her to put Lisa Hanna there as she only takes His instructions, screw what the people think!I think that this is nepotism at its highest level and I hope the people of SE. St. Ann vote for the oppositon or not vote at all. As someone who has spent the last 7 years researching and reading on Development issues, especially Third World Development…..mi couldn’t si miself a wuk unda dem people ya! I don’t usually agree with Bruce but I have to this time, when he told the people of SE St. Ann that if they never vote for themself before, this is one time they should! Is it fair that Portia Simpson Miller should select this candidate when the people from the area have rejected her? I smell something very fishy. Do you?
Fishy indeed. I totally agree with you and unfortunately money talks in JA and this is all about money and obviously lots of it.
I don’t know if she can win or not. The Jamaican electorate is very fickle. They don’t vote on issues but on superficiality. I am just annoyed that democracy was violated….but then again what can we expect? It’s a typical feature of most Third World countries.
Honest truth is, we never complained of Seaga being an ex-pat and he was Prime Minister. If we are clammering for a new breed of politicians, then we should mean it. Lisa may not have the political experience, so what? Who else in the parties had political experience before entering politics. We should remember that no one was born an expert but time and practice took care of that. I think we would be better served if we assist in ensuring that change takes place instead of preaching condemnation abd gloom.
I beg to differ with the last comment on the board: people DID in fact complain about Seaga being an ex-pat, so much so that in order to prove to Jamaicans where his loyalty lies, he denounced his American citizenship. Lisa does have some political experience, she was a tried and true Labourite. She should stick to being a powerful man’s wife instead of worrying her little head about key issues and governmental policy. I doubt she had ever driven through South East St. Ann before hearing that she would be the candidate for the constituency. Jamaica does not have the time for her to figure out how to be a politician at this point. Peter Fakhourie knows the area, knows what is necessary for the people of that area, and listens to the people. He will make an excellent Member of Parliament for South East St. Ann. Lisa Hanna can give lots of beauty tips a flash that beautiful smile wherever she goes, she will serve the country much better in that capacity.
Well to be honest, my vote is NO VOTE because nobody is forcing me to choose between two clowns who are going to rule the roost with the same plans….but different people. I shudder to think of Audley Shaw as the Minister of Finance when he couldn’t even run his own country petrol station. The only reason why I hope Lisa Hnna loses is because I want the people to prove that strength comes in numbers and nobody is going to force them to love someone they don’t want. If it is even for that alone I want to see Fakhourie win!
Note though that constituents are generally ungrateful and will vote for a newcomer who comes with a fresh curry goat lunch and a cold beer to wash it down!
I saw Lisa Hanna on a Jamaican tv talk show being asked about her plans for the constituency. She said something to the effect that since it is an agricultural community they would concentrate on agricultural activities and a chicken rearing project would be implemented and she would be giving out chickens! I had this absurd image in my mind of her with tiara, sash and gown handing out chickens!
How have the mighty fallen from top of the world to top of the roost!
I AGREE GIANNA.. PRETTY FACE BUT DOES SHE HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF?? HMM.. BUT AS GEORGIA HAS STATED MONEY TALKS IN JA.. SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS..
I have known Peter before he came out of the womb, he is true born Claremont man, and he is the the one to run in that area, what does Lisa know aboutthis area nothing? The Fakhourie family is a down to earth family, they welcome the rich the porr the ugly into their home, and the children have allgrown up to take a leaf from dad and mom’s book and even further Grandparents books.
If I was still in JA I woudl vote for him.
Peter best of luck from a Claremont born and grown
Winsme…memba seh nuff people want Sista P fi win so if it mean fi vote Lisa Hanna dem a go dweet. Fun and Joke aside……what Portia did was bad…but like everything else in Jamaica, it’s a 9 day wonder…even me stop vex bout it….until her name come out in the papers again!
Life is an incredible process , you ask these questions of Lisa because she is internationally and nationally known, but did you ask these same questions of all the new candidates?
Is there something special about SE St. Ann that makes those questions more relevant than any other constituency in Jamaica? What do you know about the candidates in NW St. Ann?
Portia didnt force Lisa on the People at at no time was she ever rejected, if a constituency say have 10,000 electors and 100 came out and vocally opposed a candidate would you say that candidate was rejected by ” the people”?
I tell you this those same very focal few were seen shortly after sporting Lisa’s t shirts.
How is a PNP candidate selected?
In a recognised constituency (constituency fullfilling various requirements by the Party) the members of the Party in that Constituency (distinct from Supporters) have the right to attend a candidate selection conference and cast their votes. Note that this is not the end of the process and the Party Hierachy has final say on any Candidacy plus candidate must perform at a certain level from selection to make said candidacy valid.
In South East St. Ann the 4 aspirants couldnt agree on a common voters list and dragged on for months and in the interim there were numerous consultations with aspirants and constituents , there seem no resolution in sight and so the Party hierachy exercise the power vested in them by the NEC.
Another point all one need to be a good MP is the capacity to learn, willingness to learn, a genuine interest to serve the people and to be a genuine people person.
So that of who/what instructed Portia in this case is hogwash.