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What will next Monday bring?
Barbara Gloudon
Friday, August 31, 2007
FOUR DAYS TO GO... and then the die will be cast. Four days to go... then the nation decides in which direction it wishes to go over the next five years. Four days to go... and not a seven in sight... Every general election has its own flavour, its peculiar emphasis. This one will have its own place in the history of our democracy - and for so many reasons. Above all, it is do or die for the chief contenders.
Starting with Mr Golding, this could be the last chance to prove that he's the right man to lead his party into a new Jerusalem. The biblical prophet Moses took all of 40 years to get his people through the desert. The JLP has been in exile from the leadership of the nation for almost two decades, almost half as long as Moses' journey. For Mr Golding, therefore, this is crunch time. Will he see the Promised Land, come Monday night?
It won't be for lack of advertising. To date, no one has confirmed exactly how much the JLP has spent on its advertising campaign, but even a kindergarten child could see that the bill is in the millions. Where has it come from? people ask. There are all kinds of stories circulating about who is paying for what and why. Since nobody gives anything for nothing, the argument goes, what have the benefactors been promised in return?
Even more fascinating are the allegations of who is supposed to be running the campaign. There can be no denying that it is sharp and focused. It responds quickly to every circumstance in the opposing camp. Above all, it has been a boon to media revenues, especially TV and radio. No wonder some people believe that the media is kinder to the JLP in its editorial content.
So whose campaign is it? Word on the street says that American media sharp- shooters were contracted and have been the chief players in the strategy. Another version says Japanese - or is it Taiwanese - audio visual specialists have been co-opted and are at work also. In a culture of PR, there have been no press releases to affirm or deny the speculation.
The electoral watchdogs' ruling that no campaign ads be run after midnight on Sunday, has prompted a doubling up in the frequency of messages from both sides. Since yesterday, the gloves are off and the jabs are coming faster than mosquitoes in rainy season. It is a pity that there have been no appeals to cool the fever of over-zealous adherents in both camps, some of whom are alleged to be behind violence which has erupted since midweek.
FOR MRS SIMPSON MILLER, this is crunch time, extraordinaire. She came into the race as the first woman in the Caribbean to occupy the chair of prime minster. Although female leaders of nations are no longer rare, globally, the halls of political leadership are still dominated by men and she has been accorded a fair share of the limelight.
The PNP took the decision to build their campaign around her which has made her the target for cartoon scud missile attacks, especially in the closing moments of the run-up to election day. How quickly she has gone from being the darling of the media (remember the adulation when she was installed?), to becoming their chief whipping post - and in only a matter of months. The polls still show that the public loves her but the media do not hesitate to skewer and ridicule her, especially since the Great Debate. This will make Monday night's results even more interesting.
IN ALL OF THE FOCUS on the leaders, what of the Jamaican people? Unlike other elections, I have not heard people being as vocal and passionate in their support of their party, as prevailed in previous times. Many voters, it seems, are playing it close to the chest.
The violent and destructives ones, meanwhile, despite every effort, seem determined to go back to the old times when it was obligatory to shed blood in support of democracy. In my naivety, I was under the assumption that we had moved past that until outbreaks of the old disease came at mid-week with reports of clashes in some rural areas, resulting in loss of life and injuries to others. It seems some of us haven't learned a thing.
TWO FACTORS which politicians ignore at their peril are the love of freeniss and the rumour mill. The most recent poll which puts the JLP ahead, credits dissatisfaction with the pace of relief delivery. This is despite the fact that the committee, which has overall responsibility, is a combination of state and NGO agencies and has instituted strict procedures to avoid accusations of impropriety.
It was set up by the government in consultation with the Opposition, under the leadership of Kingsley Thomas, who was chosen by mutual agreement to do what he also did for Hurricane Ivan relief. He defends the probity of what has been done so far and is confident that the process will be vindicated.
THEN THERE IS "SUSS-TIME". Our politicians know that they have a problem when the verandah rumour mill "tek set," as it has now. The hot "suss" of the moment is that the prime minister and the education minister had a physical fight, in the Cabinet Room, no less.Those who know the truth could preach like Paul that it didn't happen, but there is no rumour mill to beat ours. As usual, we take refuge in "Iff a nuh so it go, ah nearly so." Ask any leader since Independence. There's nothing we love like beating on them. One day it might even become an Olympic sport, who knows?
SO, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 3 awaits. It is Showdown at the OK Corral. Who will be left standing in the street when the closing credits roll? (To use film analogy.) Only Time, will tell, as we face a hurricane with its own category of strength.
SO THEN - Asafa missed Osaka gold... but he's still my main man... honest and decent to the end... still our champion. Easy, my yute!
As to Queen Veronica (Campbell) how can we thank you, sister? As a friend of mine says, so what if the sister made it by just a nipple? After all, what are bosoms for?
Usain might have got silver but let us not overlook it... nor the efforts of the rest of the team in Osaka. If only Danny McFarlane wasn't such a grumbler...
gloudonb@yahoo.com
Barbara Gloudon
Friday, August 31, 2007
FOUR DAYS TO GO... and then the die will be cast. Four days to go... then the nation decides in which direction it wishes to go over the next five years. Four days to go... and not a seven in sight... Every general election has its own flavour, its peculiar emphasis. This one will have its own place in the history of our democracy - and for so many reasons. Above all, it is do or die for the chief contenders.
Starting with Mr Golding, this could be the last chance to prove that he's the right man to lead his party into a new Jerusalem. The biblical prophet Moses took all of 40 years to get his people through the desert. The JLP has been in exile from the leadership of the nation for almost two decades, almost half as long as Moses' journey. For Mr Golding, therefore, this is crunch time. Will he see the Promised Land, come Monday night?
It won't be for lack of advertising. To date, no one has confirmed exactly how much the JLP has spent on its advertising campaign, but even a kindergarten child could see that the bill is in the millions. Where has it come from? people ask. There are all kinds of stories circulating about who is paying for what and why. Since nobody gives anything for nothing, the argument goes, what have the benefactors been promised in return?
Even more fascinating are the allegations of who is supposed to be running the campaign. There can be no denying that it is sharp and focused. It responds quickly to every circumstance in the opposing camp. Above all, it has been a boon to media revenues, especially TV and radio. No wonder some people believe that the media is kinder to the JLP in its editorial content.
So whose campaign is it? Word on the street says that American media sharp- shooters were contracted and have been the chief players in the strategy. Another version says Japanese - or is it Taiwanese - audio visual specialists have been co-opted and are at work also. In a culture of PR, there have been no press releases to affirm or deny the speculation.
The electoral watchdogs' ruling that no campaign ads be run after midnight on Sunday, has prompted a doubling up in the frequency of messages from both sides. Since yesterday, the gloves are off and the jabs are coming faster than mosquitoes in rainy season. It is a pity that there have been no appeals to cool the fever of over-zealous adherents in both camps, some of whom are alleged to be behind violence which has erupted since midweek.
FOR MRS SIMPSON MILLER, this is crunch time, extraordinaire. She came into the race as the first woman in the Caribbean to occupy the chair of prime minster. Although female leaders of nations are no longer rare, globally, the halls of political leadership are still dominated by men and she has been accorded a fair share of the limelight.
The PNP took the decision to build their campaign around her which has made her the target for cartoon scud missile attacks, especially in the closing moments of the run-up to election day. How quickly she has gone from being the darling of the media (remember the adulation when she was installed?), to becoming their chief whipping post - and in only a matter of months. The polls still show that the public loves her but the media do not hesitate to skewer and ridicule her, especially since the Great Debate. This will make Monday night's results even more interesting.
IN ALL OF THE FOCUS on the leaders, what of the Jamaican people? Unlike other elections, I have not heard people being as vocal and passionate in their support of their party, as prevailed in previous times. Many voters, it seems, are playing it close to the chest.
The violent and destructives ones, meanwhile, despite every effort, seem determined to go back to the old times when it was obligatory to shed blood in support of democracy. In my naivety, I was under the assumption that we had moved past that until outbreaks of the old disease came at mid-week with reports of clashes in some rural areas, resulting in loss of life and injuries to others. It seems some of us haven't learned a thing.
TWO FACTORS which politicians ignore at their peril are the love of freeniss and the rumour mill. The most recent poll which puts the JLP ahead, credits dissatisfaction with the pace of relief delivery. This is despite the fact that the committee, which has overall responsibility, is a combination of state and NGO agencies and has instituted strict procedures to avoid accusations of impropriety.
It was set up by the government in consultation with the Opposition, under the leadership of Kingsley Thomas, who was chosen by mutual agreement to do what he also did for Hurricane Ivan relief. He defends the probity of what has been done so far and is confident that the process will be vindicated.
THEN THERE IS "SUSS-TIME". Our politicians know that they have a problem when the verandah rumour mill "tek set," as it has now. The hot "suss" of the moment is that the prime minister and the education minister had a physical fight, in the Cabinet Room, no less.Those who know the truth could preach like Paul that it didn't happen, but there is no rumour mill to beat ours. As usual, we take refuge in "Iff a nuh so it go, ah nearly so." Ask any leader since Independence. There's nothing we love like beating on them. One day it might even become an Olympic sport, who knows?
SO, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 3 awaits. It is Showdown at the OK Corral. Who will be left standing in the street when the closing credits roll? (To use film analogy.) Only Time, will tell, as we face a hurricane with its own category of strength.
SO THEN - Asafa missed Osaka gold... but he's still my main man... honest and decent to the end... still our champion. Easy, my yute!
As to Queen Veronica (Campbell) how can we thank you, sister? As a friend of mine says, so what if the sister made it by just a nipple? After all, what are bosoms for?
Usain might have got silver but let us not overlook it... nor the efforts of the rest of the team in Osaka. If only Danny McFarlane wasn't such a grumbler...
gloudonb@yahoo.com
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