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Anatomy of an election
Lloyd B Smith
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
That a parochial election in deep rural Westmoreland can be creating so much excitement and attracting so much attention in Jamaica at this time is symptomatic of the sick state of the country's politics. To put it bluntly, we are in deep cowpat wriggling around like maggots in frenzy.
Lloyd B smith
Indeed, under normal circumstances, today's by-election in Cornwall Mountain to fill a parish council vacancy created by the death of the incumbent Michael Smith of the Opposition People's National Party, should have been nothing more than an academic exercise in the scheme of things. On the contrary, it has taken centre stage even as many more pressing matters of state are to be found backstage.
Why this brouhaha over this "one little election"? Why have matters of national import given way to a parochial event attracting the bigwigs of both parties, inclusive of Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson Miller?
It is all about power. Lest we forget, according to Lord Acton,"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is most desirous of setting the stage for an early general election so as to strengthen its meagre majority in parliament.
Having scored decisive victories with increased majorities in both the West Portland and North East St Catherine by-elections (many will contend that they were in fact "buy-elections"), the JLP has become sufficiently convinced that the people of Jamaica want them to remain at the helm of government and that the People's National Party has become a spent force that must be put out to pasture.
Of course, the disunity in the PNP and the lack of a clear-cut direction coming from its leadership have helped to embolden the JLP's seeming alacrity for going back to the polls so soon after September 3, 2007. Deputy Leader Derrick Smith's recent letting the cat out of the bag must have discombobulated the JLP hierarchy as no doubt they were working towards the element of surprise. Not having been in the news for sometime, the usually quiet and unassuming Mr Smith could not resist the temptation of putting the cat among the pigeons and watch the feathers fly! The PNP, in the meantime, will have to save its face at all costs because, if after the counting this evening, Cornwall Mountain has become green rather than remaining orange, then "dawg will have nyammed its supper".
There is more at stake for the PNP than the JLP this time round because, to begin with, Central Westmoreland is a PNP-dominated constituency, and therefore a feather in that party's cap. If the JLP were to wrest that seat from the indefatigable and ebullient Roger Clarke, member of parliament and an unrepentant supporter of party president, Portia Simpson Miller, then this will have serious consequences for them both. And it may well be that like rambunctious Roger, Sister P may have to be satisfied being president emeritus. Needless to say, if the JLP is victorious then the bells will begin to clang at Belmont Road as Labourites clamour for the settlement of all arguments.
Should the PNP win, which it ought to, given the recent history of that constituency that was once the favourite playground of the PNP's enfant terrible Dr Karl Blythe, then such a victory would have acted as a tremendous morale booster for Comrades who have been in the doldrums since 2007. Then again, if the margin of victory is very close, which it may well be, the JLP will still look fighting fit and ready to rumble when the heavyweight contest is announced.
When all is said and done, I am amazed that such a lightweight contest could have taken on so much significance. The people of Cornwall Mountain should be very happy whichever way the cookies crumble as it is no secret that in crucial elections such as this one, money must run and all kinds of goodies must flow. Undoubtedly, whether we want to believe it or not, in the same way that there were "buy-elections" in West Portland and North East St Catherine, then a similar scenario is likely to have unfolded in the hills of Central Westmoreland. And don't for one moment think that it is the JLP alone that is involved in this type of electioneering. After all, the buying of votes has become par for the course.
In this vein, the PNP's recent call via its General Secretary Peter Bunting for the revisiting of the campaign financing issue is almost similar to someone crying "cree" during a game of rounders. A JLP that is awash in cash, both in terms of being able to raid the public purse and having easy access to the moneyed class, has no time now to play that game. And it is no secret that the private-sector moguls are not too willing to fund a party led by Sister P. So the PNP had better get its act together and start some serious fund-raising if it hopes to stay in the race.
Tomorrow when the dust will have settled and one party will have emerged victorious, Jamaica land we love will again have been a big loser. There is too much politics with us; the JLP has abandoned its manifesto and pre-election promises while the PNP, having entered into an early state of dementia, has ceased to be an effective and vibrant opposition party. Against this backdrop, the Cornwall Mountain must be seen as nothing more than a sick joke. Jamaica is in a mess and all our politics does is to provide us with more mess.
Then again, we are the third most happy country in the world. Yes, we know how to "kin teeth" and "kibber we mouth", not to mention "tek serious thing mek joke." Jamaica? No problem, mon. Don't worry, be happy!
- lloydbsmith@hotmail.com
Lloyd B Smith
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
That a parochial election in deep rural Westmoreland can be creating so much excitement and attracting so much attention in Jamaica at this time is symptomatic of the sick state of the country's politics. To put it bluntly, we are in deep cowpat wriggling around like maggots in frenzy.
Lloyd B smith Indeed, under normal circumstances, today's by-election in Cornwall Mountain to fill a parish council vacancy created by the death of the incumbent Michael Smith of the Opposition People's National Party, should have been nothing more than an academic exercise in the scheme of things. On the contrary, it has taken centre stage even as many more pressing matters of state are to be found backstage.
Why this brouhaha over this "one little election"? Why have matters of national import given way to a parochial event attracting the bigwigs of both parties, inclusive of Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson Miller?
It is all about power. Lest we forget, according to Lord Acton,"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is most desirous of setting the stage for an early general election so as to strengthen its meagre majority in parliament.
Having scored decisive victories with increased majorities in both the West Portland and North East St Catherine by-elections (many will contend that they were in fact "buy-elections"), the JLP has become sufficiently convinced that the people of Jamaica want them to remain at the helm of government and that the People's National Party has become a spent force that must be put out to pasture.
Of course, the disunity in the PNP and the lack of a clear-cut direction coming from its leadership have helped to embolden the JLP's seeming alacrity for going back to the polls so soon after September 3, 2007. Deputy Leader Derrick Smith's recent letting the cat out of the bag must have discombobulated the JLP hierarchy as no doubt they were working towards the element of surprise. Not having been in the news for sometime, the usually quiet and unassuming Mr Smith could not resist the temptation of putting the cat among the pigeons and watch the feathers fly! The PNP, in the meantime, will have to save its face at all costs because, if after the counting this evening, Cornwall Mountain has become green rather than remaining orange, then "dawg will have nyammed its supper".
There is more at stake for the PNP than the JLP this time round because, to begin with, Central Westmoreland is a PNP-dominated constituency, and therefore a feather in that party's cap. If the JLP were to wrest that seat from the indefatigable and ebullient Roger Clarke, member of parliament and an unrepentant supporter of party president, Portia Simpson Miller, then this will have serious consequences for them both. And it may well be that like rambunctious Roger, Sister P may have to be satisfied being president emeritus. Needless to say, if the JLP is victorious then the bells will begin to clang at Belmont Road as Labourites clamour for the settlement of all arguments.
Should the PNP win, which it ought to, given the recent history of that constituency that was once the favourite playground of the PNP's enfant terrible Dr Karl Blythe, then such a victory would have acted as a tremendous morale booster for Comrades who have been in the doldrums since 2007. Then again, if the margin of victory is very close, which it may well be, the JLP will still look fighting fit and ready to rumble when the heavyweight contest is announced.
When all is said and done, I am amazed that such a lightweight contest could have taken on so much significance. The people of Cornwall Mountain should be very happy whichever way the cookies crumble as it is no secret that in crucial elections such as this one, money must run and all kinds of goodies must flow. Undoubtedly, whether we want to believe it or not, in the same way that there were "buy-elections" in West Portland and North East St Catherine, then a similar scenario is likely to have unfolded in the hills of Central Westmoreland. And don't for one moment think that it is the JLP alone that is involved in this type of electioneering. After all, the buying of votes has become par for the course.
In this vein, the PNP's recent call via its General Secretary Peter Bunting for the revisiting of the campaign financing issue is almost similar to someone crying "cree" during a game of rounders. A JLP that is awash in cash, both in terms of being able to raid the public purse and having easy access to the moneyed class, has no time now to play that game. And it is no secret that the private-sector moguls are not too willing to fund a party led by Sister P. So the PNP had better get its act together and start some serious fund-raising if it hopes to stay in the race.
Tomorrow when the dust will have settled and one party will have emerged victorious, Jamaica land we love will again have been a big loser. There is too much politics with us; the JLP has abandoned its manifesto and pre-election promises while the PNP, having entered into an early state of dementia, has ceased to be an effective and vibrant opposition party. Against this backdrop, the Cornwall Mountain must be seen as nothing more than a sick joke. Jamaica is in a mess and all our politics does is to provide us with more mess.
Then again, we are the third most happy country in the world. Yes, we know how to "kin teeth" and "kibber we mouth", not to mention "tek serious thing mek joke." Jamaica? No problem, mon. Don't worry, be happy!
- lloydbsmith@hotmail.com