Mark Wignall | The election heat is on

The last proper whipping handed out from one political party to the other was in September 2020 when the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) secured 49 seats and the People’s National Party (PNP) had to lap its tail and silently lament with 14 seats. One month before that, in August 2020, one could feel the political lightning at the very moment it cracked.

One could not say which month or week in 2020 before the election was the time the PNP admitted to itself that its electoral best would not lead to its political success. The JLP was going to win. The PNP was going to lose. And nothing could upset that balance.

At this moment, neither of the two parties has shown any interest in the reverse brake. The PNP knows that its back is against the wall because, like all opposition parties at this time, the assumption must be that the ruling party will choose the most suitable time for the country for the government, and definitely for the party, to spring the election.

Recently, I stated that the abyssmal state of our road surfaces as a failure of policy could show up in the elections. Unemployment is not that crucial a problem among our people at this time as it was 10, 15 years ago. Widespread crime has tamped down a significant bit. Poverty is still there, but showing up as a problem over a long time is not as prevalent as before.

So, it gave the potential voter, especially those who voted for the JLP and want to do so this election, even though the election vibe is not widespread, reason to criticise the party while naming bad roads as a main problem.

Months ago, the section of Red Hills Road beginning at Madame Rose Leon Park and winding its way through numerous potholes and scarring of the tar composite at the surface all the way to hill foot was a lost cause. So I saw it as another mile of road that would not be fixed. On Wednesday, I drove from hill foot to Red Hills square. The roadway was as smooth as polished tiles.

So, maybe the governmental administration and the party are melding the politics of the moment and the need to keep a safe seat.There is some action, especially along the lines of tying up the political moment to secure the third straight win. In the 2020 election, the JLP missed grabbing a real popular vote landslide (60% - 40%). Surely there is nothing close this time around. Or is there?

IMPRESSIVE, NOT BORING LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS

The JLP has released a readable booklet listing its ‘Record Achievements’ and one senses that not only is the booklet spot on in listing some of the JLP’s impressive achievements, it’s basically set up in such a way as to tease and mock the opposition PNP; Look at what has been laid out. Workable good-looking 21st century buses, No excess of poor taxi service almost set up to abuse young school girls and expose our children to psychologically damaging music.

The building out of rural Jamaica and the upgrading of urban centres. Murders down by 45 per cent, gangs being dismantled, Over 6,000 new police personnel added since 2018, 1800 police vehicles, 150 police stations upgraded, domestic violence units set up at 10 police stations.

Programmes set up to give significant assistance to those farmers who supply us with needed produce from the land. The booklet belongs to the JLP and its lists achievements in road repairs, water systems, delivering land titles to over 20,000 Jamaicans and 34,000 housing units got through NHT are solid achievements.

All of this places the PNP on delicate footing as it must provide us with its great List of Intentions. As the PNP releases another manifesto, it triggers a huge balancing act of belief or non-belief. The PNP has not been in power since 2016. The PNP is still a full member of Socialist International, whatever that means in the real world. Has the PNP developed political cold feet because of the long duration soaked in governmental winter?

NOTHING ON SSL, EH JLP?

The reader wrote a few days ago. “The recent huge gun find at a warehouse was publicized but then, after senior officials stated that information about the find was premature, there has been pure silence. Has anyone been detained or arrested? How did that many guns get into Jamaica and no one has been held accountable?

“Very odd again. Why the secrecy? Finally, let me say it again ( I know you must be tired of hearing this from me) why is there still no report to the public about Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) or charges brought against others for the SSL saga. For some specific reason, the JLP just wants the internationally embarrassing matter of SSL to go away, and have decided that silence is golden.

“In other words this government is probably relying on what it believes is a stockroom filled with JLP niceties and achievement to take it peacefully across the line on the SSL matter. The JLP is waiting on journalists or a journalist to drag it into the public and present names alongside. At which stage the embarrassment could be too much.”

Or maybe it is what is becoming obvious. The general public has no interest in SSL.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com