Last evening, it was unofficially declared that the JLP had won with 31 seats to the PNP’s 29. I was shocked by the fact that the JLP did not cop more seats than that. One has to give credit where credit is due. The JLP ran a very organised campaign in this election. Their PR was second to none and so were the commercials. My favourite was “Me and mi neighba”. No matter what I was doing at the time that ad was on TV (not so much radio), I stopped and watched it. The little old lady dancing in her green, the crowd, the people, the dancers….one had to love that commerical! But how come the JLP, millions of dollars later and the message of change couldn’t cop more than that in the preliminary count? My guess is as good as yours, but you have to admit that the struggle also is a reflection on the PNP (good or bad, you decide).
There were some real surprises and upsets. Sally Porteous has worked assiduously in her community and I really expected her to win her seat. Bunting just got there 6 months ago and he beat her…..maybe not by a landslide…but he still beat her. Shaw’s seat came as a surprise to me as I thought Paul Lyn would have unseated him. Richard Azan was another surprise considering how it was said that he did a great job but I gather Stern is a likeable guy so that was tough. Horace Dalley….well not much can be said about his seat just yet. Daryl Vaz and Abe Dabdoub had me on the edge of my seat ALL NIGHT.
I really expected Rosie Shaw to defeat James Robertson and wasn’t surprised at Lisa Hanna’s victory (The beauty of politics)…plus that big “diss” she got the other day could only help and not harm her. I can hear the little country man now “Wi haffi vote fi har. Look ‘ow shi pretty wid tall ‘air and skin like butta”. I remember when she was first selected (not elected) I heard a man on the news with a wretched smile on his face saying that “Is 5 a Lisa Hanna wi want down ya”. Jamaican men for you.
I was surprised that Harry Douglas and Roger Clarke held on. I was surprised that Marisa Dalrymple beat Donneth Brown Reid….as for Phillip Paulwell…..I was wondering how it is that the JLP didn’t use a stronger candidate against him….especially as they had hit out on him due to the numerous scandals behind his name.
Bruce’s speech was perfect, while Portia’s was disappointing. I felt she should have just said that the election was too close to call and she would not concede immediately and left it at that. I was a bit disappointed that she didn’t end on a note of peace and a message of “no violence please”. Bruce on the other hand was humble and did not gloat. I think this was a wise move on his part pending the outcome this evening. He really surprised me to tell you the truth.
We await to hear tonight’s results. What are your thoughts on the General Election?
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