Lisa in the Pressure Cooker

[Mosiah]

You had a good laugh?

[Mosiah]

700+ delegates stayed away...you not dat stupid

No, but apparently you are.

Are you suggesting that of the 672 who stayed away there would have been a massive swing to the other candidate who could manage only 10 before?!?

I only look stupid.

[Lazie]

You had a good laugh?

I'm just here for the comments dude ...

[Mosiah]

...no matter how dumb.

Ok, whatever blows up your skirt...!

[Gamma]

I don't know that it is that stupid, if it could work out that way on the one hand why not the other way?

plus if it was that overwhelming why the controversy in the constituency?

heard the challenger this morning on the radio and it may not be over.

[Bricktop]

Are you suggesting that of the 672 who stayed away there would have been a massive swing to the other candidate who could manage only 10 before?!?

if the challengers delegates did not participate in the vote, then yes, that would be a logical assumption

[Lazie]

I don't know that it is that stupid, if it could work out that way on the one hand why not the other way?

plus if it was that overwhelming why the controversy in the constituency?

heard the challenger this morning on the radio and it may not be over.

If it was the NNN interview, I think it is over. Yes, there are questions to be answered, but I think she has made it clear where her loyalty lies.

[Willi]

Grace Virtue complaining too…in her column:

Here, in Jamaica, the battle continues for the soul of this country; for our signs of hope in the midst of barrenness on so many fronts. Even as we traverse difficult economic times, some of us want to see in our leaders, not the holiness of a Pope Francis, but a commitment to truth, honesty, authenticity, and a reasonable commitment to high ethical practices so that the people can trust their words and actions. For the most part, we see the exact opposite; one charade after another, but who cares as long as the system is being manipulated to serve their interest?

On the election in St Ann South Eastern, where Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna ostensibly has been returned to her position representing the ruling People's National Party (PNP) in the upcoming general election, I asked Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson why the delegates' list was so high, compared to others elsewhere. In Portland Eastern, for example, 274 delegates voted out of a possible 384. In Lloyd B Smith's constituency, the vote was 66-36. In St Elizabeth South Western, it was 147 to 133 for the Hugh Buchanan win over Ewan Stephenson. These numbers seem more reflective of the numbers generally. So what accounts for this list of 1,056? Robinson said it varies by constituency depending on how many groups are registered.

But in research/scientific thinking, this is more than normal variation, and it therefore requires explanation, particularly when the challenger drops out citing concerns over the list, and one area businessman has written to the PNP Secretariat to complain that he discovered he was on the list as chairman of a group but he is uninvolved in any party matters, nor does he want his name or business misappropriated this way.

Who colt the game?

Why are our leaders so comfortable with subterfuge? What is our future when we are so selective in our calls for critical thinking, positive values and high ethical standards?

To whom should we look for hope?

Grace Virtue, PhD, is a social justice advocate.