Lead Stories

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Up to Tuesday afternoon many residents in North East St Ann had still not heard the news that the Supreme Court had declared the seat held by the Jamaica Labour Party's Shahine Robinson vacant, paving the way for a by-election in that constituency.

But the general response from persons who had heard and who The Gleaner interviewed was one of: 'Oh no, not another by-election!'

There were concerns about the cost of the election and the impact that campaigning would have on the constituency.

Anetta Walters, a hairstylist in Ocho Rios, believes that the by-election funds could be better used for other initiatives.

"I think they should take the money and put it to good use instead of all these elections, elections every day," was her terse comment.

Another woman, who gave her name only as Bent, shared Walters' concerns.

"The policymakers need to think of the general public, especially those who are below the poverty line in Jamaica, and spend the money where it matters the most. This whole heap of legal fees and all of that - it's necessary but not so necessary - they need to spend the money wisely," she said.

Golding in trouble

Another resident, Nerissa Nelson, thought it would spell the end of Bruce Golding as prime minister.

"Personally, I don't think it's good, especially for Bruce, because if we have a by-election, it's a sure thing that he's going down," Nelson predicted.

Former People's National Party member of parliament for the constituency, Manley Bowen, had filed the election petition against Robinson after the 2007 general election, contending that Robinson was not qualified to sit in Parliament because she was a United States citizen at the time of her nomination.

Meanwhile, the St Ann business community has also reacted negatively to the prospective by-election.

Bob Thakurani, president of the Ocho Rios Indian Association, whose member operate most of the in-bond businesses in the resort town, is in the naysayers' court.

"It is definitely bad timing to have an election now. With what we're already going through in Jamaica, coupled with a slow (tourist) season, it definitely is not the right time," Thakurani told The Gleaner.

And president of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce, Horace Wildes, also thought the political intrigue would distract from substantive issues.

"So much has been happening, this is yet another thing that will probably unsettle the whole restoration process. We should be concentrating on rebuilding. This certainly will affect our stability," Wildes said.