Election fever is in the air
Published:Saturday | September 17, 2011 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
With one year remaining in the Jamaica Labour Party's term, there will be some notable changes that will occur. The political parties will present their manifestos telling of their intentions of moving the country forward in the future. The promises will be endless: roads, water, housing, lands; no more Jamaica Public Service, schools, free university, and jobs, jobs, jobs.
They will take the time out of their extremely busy schedules; park their Pajeros and C-class Mercedes Kompressors to walk on the tracks some call roads. Your children will get a chance to touch the celebrities that they only see on TV. They will: play with your dog Rex; eat 'tin mackerel' out of your Dutch pot; look at the holes in your roof over your bedroom and, before leaving, take your name and number in order to put you on the 'jobs, jobs, jobs' list.
There will be the North Street invasion of the media; full-page ads in the tabloids and paid announcements aplenty. There will be cars, JUTC buses, and trucks filled with political supporters hanging from windows waving flags, and shouting 'Shower' or 'Power' on their way to rallies.
At the rallies, the politicians are the entertainers, revealing secrets, sending threats and taking swipes at their opponents. All the scandals and those affiliated with dons from 1962 until now will be echoed through the speakers all over the island. The country will be painted orange and green, with a touch of blue. There will be free hats, T-shirts, liquor, lunch and dinner, and you can get a 'Shearer' for 10 people, which is equal to 10 votes.
Now there is speculation on when the general election will be, but the Opposition is trying to force the Governments to call it before August or September 2012. This is for the obvious reason of leading the country into the milestone celebration of 50 years of Independence.
Who will distribute the most handouts; make the most promises; reveal the most scandals; get the chance to host the 50th anniversary celebrations and, most of all, win the elections. So get ready to do it all over, election is in the air.
HEZEKAN BOLTON
Spring Village, St Catherine