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?
as it is now I doubt Paulwell will lose anytime soon, I live in his constituency and it’s a sea of PNP supporters
I havent followed as closely as I would have liked but considering how long the PNP has been in power I suspected the JLp would win. Thought it might be a bit larger win though
The jlp has a long road ahead, not because of the mess the pnp has handed them but but because of the slim victory. I assume that the pnp will be bitter losers and in parliament, will more of a headache than the current state of the nation. if the jlp reps should put forward an idea for the betterment of the nation the pnp side (note the other half) will be in total and unanimous disagreement with the jlp. sad to say there are ALL Jamaican representatives but they do all have the country’s best interest at heart rather the party. So expect parliament to not only be divided into the upper and lower house but also, sadly, jlp and pnp.
A larger margin of victory, would secure a better environment for the jlp to work in. im not saying that the pnp representatives do not want to better jamaica but they want to better themselves first. Maybe the jlp suffers from that as well but for them to be equally divided will pose a problem.
Shonari I somewhat agree but one thing I am against…and I make NO BONES ABOUT IT…..I oppose any going back to the multilateral institutions such as the IMF. I lived and worked through the 1980s and people in my age group can attest to the harsh conditions of that time. If they have a tight opposition then they may not be able to go that route. I am of the opinion that this is the only way they may be able to deliver some of those promises and that is what I am against. By the way I hope you were listening to the talk shows today….people are already asking about the school fee and the health care….because some of them are waiting for the JLP to pay it for them.
I thought before the election that this will be the most important period in Jamaica’s history and still beleive that to be the case. The JLP does look much more hungry and eager to take us to the next level as the PNP seemed stalled. I hope they put this election confusion to rest soon so that Bruce and his team can get to work.
And by the way, the election process in JA has now been changed from now on with campaign money, the internet and the hope that the hardline garrison politics are of the past and voters now vote more on the issues rather than party lines.
I am happy with the result. Very happy. I am one of those people who think it is rubbish to vote for one party every election and you are not a paid up party memam not a party member. Even then, – it should be Jamaica first and party second. Some people forget that. This parliament make-up will show us which party puts Jamaica first. I am keen to see how the JLP will forge ahead and lead and I am eager to see how the PNP will oppose. I feel GREAT today. This surely is our best best for changing the political attitudes of our people. How can Bruce and Portia win by such majorities? GARRISONS. This need to change. I wish my people would start voting wisely – but as Bruce said this election result is a message. Things can change with good leadership. The PNP can also lead in opposition. We are all watching for 2012 when hopefully our nation’s voting practices will have seen he growing maturity we saw on election day. I would love to see an NGO that is NON-PARTISAN, start an educational campaign on the value of voting to get Jamaicans out to vote. And also to educate on the perils of voting along staunch party lines and not watching policies. This is something that should be started now. And it should truely be non-partisan.
Although I do not currently live in Jamaica I keep abreast daily through the Gleaner also my family still lives there. When sister P took over I was elated, I thought as a woman she would understand the plight of the less fortunate and would hurry to change some things or aleast show the people she had their interest at heart, I also thought that because her backing was high she would call an election within months, none of that happened. After listening to her many statements some of which sounds like they came from an un-educated person I wonder what would have happened to the country if she had won the election. I finally realized her downfall atfer reading an article about her schooling, she has limited education and is not equipped to lead a country.
Let us hope and pray that those who have been trusted with the powers can now change course and make Jamaica proud, it’s long over due.
I must say that I am equally contented with the JLP victory-despite how small the margin. The prospects for the country are immense with a new political party at the helm; especially one that has promised such sweeping changes to our political institutions. We will see in a matter of time the commitment and ability of the JLP to implement these changes.
GG I agree with you: Bruce Golding’s speech on Monday night was impressive; he was able to articulate a vision for Jamaica that captured the hearts and minds of all Jamaicans irrespective of political preference. I am currently intrigued by the term “constructive engagement” and eager to see how this policy will play out in the upcoming months within Parliament. Could this be dawn of an era when elected members from different political parties serve within the Cabinet? Possibly I am getting ahead of myself, but if we ever hope to end the tribal politics within our country both political parties have to show a vested interest in changing the dynamics of their interaction within the national-level and local-level political institutions. Do you feel that “constructive engagement” as Bruce defines it can work?
Enough said… blessings to all
True about the narrow margin of victory not only taking into consideration the millions spent on ads but just the experiences for the past 4 PNP terms should have been enough without no ads no money from the JLP….This should send a very strong message to the JLP…..and re those promises..i laughed on RJR when one man called to say he just paid the school fee at the bank and was asking where he should go to gt it back……if he could go back to the bank!!! Funny!
All i know is interesting times ahead!!
Marangand….I heard those calls coming into Hotline as well. People want to know where and when they can collect their refund. I gather the schools are feeling it as there are no payments coming in. My personal view is that the JLP spent a lot of money on their campaign and didn’t have a landslide victory. On another note, I hear some 21 year old saying that their parents had tried to convince them to stay on course and they didn’t listen. Ha Ha Ha. Interesting times ahead indeed….especially with the constitutional issues at hand here now.
[...] Girl asks Who is in Charge of Jamaica? The Gleaner Election Blog asks Is Jamaica Changing Course? Gordon blogs that it’s not [...]