By Webmin on December 30, 2011 7:38 AM
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The police are reporting that one man died, after he cast his ballot in Portland on Thursday [December 29].
Seventy year old Sylvester Nugent a farmer of Mullet Hall in West Portland collapsed about 10:15 a.m. and was taken to the Annotto Bay Hospital.
It is reported that Mr. Nugent voted at the Avocot Primary and Junior High School, PD 93 and after voting, said he had voted for the wrong person.
He then collapsed and was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
By Webmin on December 30, 2011 7:38 AM
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The opposition People's National Party, led by former premier Portia Simpson Miller, won the Jamaica's general elections, preliminary results showed late Thursday.
The party had already won more than half the 63 seats up for grabs in Thursday's elections.
Karl Samuda, the campaign director of the governing Jamaica Labour Party, conceded defeat on national television.
The win for the Centre-Left People's National Party means Ms. Miller would return to office after a gap of four years.
Prime MinisterAndrew Holness called the snap election after taking office when Bruce Golding resigned in October.
Final results are expected Saturday.
About 1.6 million citizens were eligible to vote.
A key election issue was the Caribbean island's high national debt of about 130 per cent of its gross domestic product. High unemployment and crime were also key issues in the campaign.
By Webmin on December 30, 2011 1:43 AM
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The party led by Portia Simpson Miller has returned to government after taking the majority of the 63 seats. The PNP have taken 41 and the JLP 22 of the 63 seats.
It had been expected to be a close race, but in the end the PNP secured a strong win. The economy was key to the campaign, with unemployment running at over 12% - many of the PNP's core supporters are those who have been directly affected by the downturn.
Mrs Simpson Miller, also known as Sister P by supporters, was seen to appeal to the working class and mobilised their vote. The Jamaican Labour Party is more conservative, and more closely-linked to Jamaica's business community.
The JLP leader, Andrew Holness, was only sworn in a couple of months ago after Bruce Golding stepped down due to his lack of popularity. At 39, Mr Holness was Jamaica's youngest PM and the second shortest serving.
Meanwhile, several newcomers from the PNP are set to take seats in Parliament.
They include Damion Crawford, Lloyd B. Smith, Arnaldo Brown, Dr. Lynvale Bloomfield, Patrick Atkinson, Andre Hylton, Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams, Denise Daley, Mickael Phillips, Paul Buchanan, Dayton Campbell, Keith Walford, Richard Parchment and Joylan Silvera.
Some former PNP Parliamentarians are back.
They include Horace Dalley and Richard Azan. Among the well known JLP candidates who were defeated are Robert Montague, Clive Mullings, Ernest Smith, Andrew Gallimore, Laurie Broderick, Sharon Hay-Webster, Othneil Lawrence and Michael Stern.
By Webmin on December 29, 2011 8:37 PM
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The People's National Party has won the December 20, 2011 general elections.
In terms of declared seats, the PNP managed to take 36 while the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) claimed 19 seats.
The third parties did not claim any seats.
THE Electoral Office, however, has not yet officially called the elections for the opposition. As soon as this is done, the party leader, Portia Simpson Miller will deliver her acceptance speech.
By Webmin on December 29, 2011 6:47 PM
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KINGSTON, Jamaica(AP) -- Jamaica's two main political parties are in a neck-and-neck race to capture a majority of the country's 63 parliamentary seats and win control of the government for the next five years.
Both sides were predicting victory after a hard-fought lead-up to Thursday's general elections pitting Jamaica's youngest prime minister and his center-right party against a veteran opponent who hopes to return her center-left faction to power and take a second lap as leader.
With most opinion polls putting the two parties in a virtual dead heat, candidates have scrambled for traction with undecided voters across the Caribbean island known as the birthplace of reggae and a hothouse for big-time sprinters.
Andrew Holness, a 39-year-old lawmaker who was unanimously chosen to be prime minister by his party just two months ago when predecessor Bruce Golding resigned amid anemic public backing, has tried to woo swing voters by promising new jobs in a debt-wracked nation with roughly 13 percent unemployment.
"Jamaicans are now safer, our economy is stable with a solid foundation for job creation," Holness said in a last-minute national address touting Labor's record.
Holness, largely seen as an unexciting but calm, pragmatic leader, said his party has started to reverse economic stagnation and effectively battled criminal gangs that have long been the scourge of the country. He has also pledged to modernize the bloated public sector without massive layoffs.
He argues that the PNP severely mismanaged the economy over its 18-year-tenure until its 2007 election loss, leading to a steady devaluation of the Jamaican dollar that cut deeply into the purchasing power of most wage earners and caused the standard of living to fall.
Meanwhile, 66-year-old opposition chief Portia Simpson Miller, a stalwart of the People's National Party since its days as a democratic socialist faction in the 1970s, has dismissed Holness as an indecisive leader and painted his party as hopelessly corrupt and unsympathetic to the plight of Jamaica's many poor inhabitants.
"It is not only going to be a victory but a wipeout of the Jamaica Labor Party," she told a crowd of cheering supporters dressed in the party's color of orange.
Simpson Miller was born in rural poverty and grew up in a Kingston ghetto, not far from the crumbling concrete jungle made famous by Bob Marley. Also referred to as "Sista P" and "Comrade Leader," she is known for her plain speaking style and warm interactions with supporters.
But detractors say her political style is largely superficial and she was out of her depth during her brief tenure as Jamaica's first female prime minister between March 2006 to September 2007, when her party was narrowly voted out of power.
The winner of Thursday's vote will face deep economic problems on this island of 2.8 million people. Jamaica's punishing debt stands at roughly $18.6 billion, or 130 per cent of gross domestic product, a rate about 10 percentage points higher than Italy's and 20 points lower than Greece's.
Jamaica's economy has been on a meager upswing, but roughly 60 percent of government spending still goes to debt and another 30 percent pays wages. That leaves just 10 percent for education, health, security and other parts of the budget.
Still, the monthlong campaign often bristled with a festive feel as cheering, horn-honking caravans of partisans attended packed rallies, waving banners and dancing to reggae tunes pounding out of big speakers.
But the campaign has also stirred some anxiety during the Christmas season as scattered incidents of violence and vandalism have been reported. Thousands of police officers and soldiers have been deployed to maintain security.
Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair said Wednesday that the campaign was one of the "best we've ever had" in Jamaica, with just three deaths and about a half dozen woundings that he says investigators might eventually determine to be politically motivated.
In the lead-up to the 1980 elections, more than 800 people were killed in political clashes. Since then, large-scale political violence has dissipated and most killings are blamed on the drug and extortion trade.
Although most recent polls show a dead heat, the political team at the Jamaica Gleaner, the island's largest newspaper, has predicted that Labor will capture 34 of the 63 seats, while the PNP will claim 29.
Omar Wright, a 23-year-old unemployed man voting in his first election, said a lack of jobs convinced him to vote for the opposition.
"It's hard out here," Douglas said on a packed corner in downtown Kingston, where vendors were selling flip flops, towels and phone cards. "I don't think any of these politicians really know how hard it is, but we need a change."
Nearby, Reiza Davies, a 29-year-old clothes vendor, said she was voting Labor because people in her community always do.
"Anything is better than the PNP," she said, making a sour face.
By Webmin on December 29, 2011 6:46 PM
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St Catherine voters of the two major political parties turned out in their numbers to cast their ballots at the more than 300 polling stations covering the three constituencies.
In the South St Catherine constituency where the incumbent PNP candidate Fitz Jackson is being challenged by the JLP's Keith Hinds, voters streamed in and out of the 122 polling divisions from early this morning.
Election officials report that the process went smoothly throughout the day with minor glitches. Some complained that they were barred from voting because their names were not on the presiding officer's list. Voter turn out was heavy at the Braeton Primary and Junior School and the Ascott High School in the constituency.
RJR News caught up with Mr Hinds and Mr Jackson and both expressed confidence of victory. Mr Hinds argued that the redrawing of the boundary of the constituency gives him a chance of victory. Mr Jackson dismissed his claim and countered that he will be returned as MP.
Voters also turned out in their numbers to cast their ballots in the newly created East Central St Catherine constituency where the PNP's Arnaldo Brown is battling the JLP's Camille Buchanan.
Ms Buchanan was confident she would be the new MP when the polls close.
In the South East St Catherine constituency where the PNP's Colin Fagan is up against the JLP's Keith Blake, there was a high voter turn out.
Throughout the day, there were scenes of friendly embrace between supporters of the two main parties in the three constituencies
By Webmin on December 28, 2011 5:02 PM
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Entertainers on the PNP campaign trail
Freddie McGregor, Tarrus Riley, Duane Stephenson, Etana and Ce'cile were among the reggae/dancehall artistes who performed at a wrap-up campaign and concert staged by the Peoples National Party on Tuesday night.
Clearly showing their solidarity and not just doing a job, the artistes selected songs from their repertoire which were most befitting of the occasion to strengthen PNP party leader Portia Simpson Miller. At the end of his performance, veteran Freddie McGregor, who represented Big Ship, had kind words of encouragement for Mama P. The las' lap was aired live on CVM TV and also included an impassioned speech from Mrs Simpson Miller.
Tarrus Riley sang his blockbuster hit She's Royal, with new meaning and also scored bulls eye with Congagious, and of course, the popular Lion Paw, for which the crowd of PNP supporters added their voices as if singing on a mass choir.
"No evil can bring me harm, tell them to go back where they came from; No demonic works performed can prosper; I tell the obeah and science man calm, cause dem cyaan touch di lion paw:"
Declaring, "A woman time now, you see it. Where are all my independent ladies I want oonu mek some noise," female artiste Ce'cile took the mic from Tarrus and did her thing. Her performance came after Etana and Duane Stephenson's, two of the acts who were fully dressed in PNP red.
For her part, party leader Portia Simpson Miller looked overwhelmed as Tarrus led the crowd in singing She's Royal. Like a true debater who is ready to give the summation, the PNP leader quoted from party founder, Norman Manley and noted that, "Thursday will be a defining day in the history of Jamaica and the Jamaican people
"I implore you to vote for a government you can trust, a leader with experience - both local and international, rather than someone who needs a learning curve. We have a blend of wisdom, experience, youth, brilliance, energy and fresh thinking," Simpson Miller said.
She added, "The bell can take you nowhere, the only thing u can do with a bell is ring it - your head can take you wherever you want to go in life," the woman who hopes to be the Prime Minister of Jamaica for the second time around stated.
Even before she said it, everyone could hear the words, "Put your 'X' beside the head."
The clock is ticking away to Thursday December 29, 2011.
By Webmin on December 27, 2011 1:03 PM
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As Jamaicans get ready to go to the polls in another 72 hours to elect a new government, the Jamaica Labour Party and the Peoples National Party are locked in a near dead heat in their favourability rating.
That's the findings of the latest RJR/TVJ/Boxill Poll.We asked 1482 enumerated Jamaicans in 216 communities to rate the parties.
47 percent of the respondents had a favourable view of the JLP...this compares to the 44 point 7 percent for the PNP.
But with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent, both parties could actually be dead even.
This latest poll was conducted between December 21 and 24 and the result differs mildly from the similar poll we did two weeks earlier on December 10.
At that time 46 percent had a favourable view of the JLP and 43 point 8 percent for the PNP. both parties grew by a percentage point.
On the flip side...fewer persons now have an unfavourable view of the JLP.
44 percent sees the JLP as unfavourable compared to 45 percent earlier in December. The figures for the PNP hardly budged with 46 point 9 percent now and 47 percent on December 10.
So which party do Jamaicans trust more?
The parties were even at 41 percent in the December 10 poll. They both gained the trust from more people this time around...albeit a small increase.
The JLP is ahead with 43 point 6 percent with the PNP closely behind with 42 point percent. Meanwhile, 3 point 2 percent of those we poll said there no difference , while close to 11 percent didn't or didn't respond.
By Webmin on December 27, 2011 1:03 PM
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The Dr Lloyd Barnett-chaired Citizens Action for Free and Fair Election
Two more overseas groups have accepted invitations from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, (ECJ), to monitor Thursday's General Election.
This increases to three the number of international teams that will be observing voting activities.
Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Professor Errol Miller, says the two groups are based in the region.
Members of the teams are scheduled to arrive in the island on Tuesday.
Earlier this month the Organization of American States, (OAS), said it would send an observer team for the election.
And although the parties have all but wrapped up their campaigns for the General Election, Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair says his office remains on high alert.
Bishop Blair says arrangements have been made for his office to continue monitoring political activities during the holiday period.
A campaign free period will be introduced come Monday
Effective midnight, the parties have agreed to stop political broadcasts and campaign commercials on radio and television.
No new campaign ads should be posted on the internet during the period.The black out will continue until 7am election day.
As it relates to print media, no ads will appear in the December 28 and 29 publications.
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By Webmin on December 27, 2011 1:03 PM
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Four days after notorious break away member of the Clansman Gang Navardo Hodges was beheaded in St. Catherine one of his cronies was on Sunday morning shot and injured by police, on March Pen Road in St. Catherine.
It's reported about 10 o'clock police received reports of strange men in the area and went in search of them.
Reports are that after the police entered the area the man was shot.
He is 23 year old Anthony Richards otherwise called "Ganja." He was wanted by the police for a string of murders, he was wanted for the death of a business man at a car wash in November.
Richards and Hodges reportedly became close allies when they broke away from the Clansman gang.
On Wednesday, Reputed gang leader, Navardo Hodges, also known as DJ, was found dead this morning in Spanish Town.
Hodges' head was found in one location before what is believed to be his torso was discovered in another section of the town.
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