Gordon Robinson | Finally! it’s election eve!!

’Twas the night before elections and, all through Gordon House, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

The candidates were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of government contracts danced in their heads. The talk had ended; the promises made; and now it was time for the voter parade.

When I was just a little girl

I asked my mother, “What will I be?”

“Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?”

Here’s what she said to me

Que sera, sera.

Whatever will be, will be.

The future’s not ours to see.

Que sera, sera.

What will be, will be.

If PNP believes this (or any) Jamaican election is likely to be decided on corruption it’s sadly mistaken. Regrettably, too many voters view ALL politicians as corrupt. Their only interest in that issue is whether, after the inescapable political t’iefing is done, they and their families have also benefitted and, almost as an aside, Jamaica has benefitted. Voters’ priority issues are personal (not macro-) economics; crime; infrastructure (roads; water); education; and health.

In 1980, PNP lost on ideology (no such division now). During the 1990s and early “noughties”, JLP lost due to intra-party divisions and “black man time” foolishness. In 2007 a change in JLP leadership brought more party unity. That, combined with Portia’s inexcusable delay in calling the election, allowed voters’ poor personal economics (and a severe weather event) to catch up with PNP. In 2011, JLP did NOT lose because of economic corruption but because, for many months, it stoutly defended a mass murderer and drug Kingpin against a perfectly valid USA Extradition request. So it lost on crime. In 2016 PNP lost on personal economics. In 2020 Rise United arranged for PNP to self-destruct and JLP won on PNP disunity as had PNP on JLP disunity twenty odd years before.

When I grew up and fell in love

I asked my sweetheart, “What lies ahead?

Will we have rainbows day after day?”

Here’s what my sweetheart said

Que sera, sera.

Whatever will be will be.

The future’s not ours to see.

Que sera, sera.

What will be, will be.

Que Sera, Sera was featured in the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and topped the UK Pop Chart. It also reached Number 2 in USA, becoming Doris Day’s last top 5 hit there.

Later, the song was featured in 1988’s dark comedy Heathers and 2009’s award-winning Australian stop-motion film Mary and May. It’s impossible for Generation Z to comprehend how global a star Doris Day was in late 50s/early 60s or how popular her movies with Rock Hudson were in Jamaica.

Tomorrow, voters will decide based on whether they feel macroeconomic gains have positively affected their lives; whether available jobs are real or fanciful; whether murders are down or murderers varied; whether community infrastructural needs are being met; whether their children can be educated without having to rob a bank.

The key political strategy has nothing to do with making wild allegations of corruption. What will seal the deal is political mobilization. Has PNP overcome the soul destroying self inflicted wounds caused by Rise United’s narcissistic attack on the Party six years ago? Some unity has been restored but PNP has haemorrhaged talent as several senior officials have either left or switched allegiance taking supporters with them. Over 150,000 votes from PNP’s base was lost in 2020. How many remain lost?

That fundamental question will be answered tomorrow.

The result is likely to be tighter than a cow’s rear-end in fly season. You already know my predicted winner and my flutter on the correct score. But who am I? Definitely NOT di girls dem sugah! I’m just a Terrible Tout.

What I will guarantee all political candidates; all political sycophants; and all anxious political supporters is that, on September 4, the sun will rise in the East as usual. The world will continue to spin on its axis. You will all have family and/or occupational matters to care for and manage.

Hopefully the stakeholders and anxiety driven supporters will recognize the sage advice in Doris Day’s song. Personally, my attitude to the entire circus is better described by the Jamaican cover of that song by the great Cecil Bustamante Campbell (a.k.a. Prince Buster). Unfortunately, after 60 years, the song remains unfit for air play but there’s a (Domi)No Prize on offer for anyone who can recall (or remember; lol) it.

Tomorrow, microwave or pan-fry your popcorn in a covered skillet. Watch the three-ring circus on whatever device available to you. Take the Spinners’ recommendation on board:

Laugh everyone at the clowns.

They’re the best ones in town.

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com