Mark Wignall | No turning back now

Weeks before September 2020 when PM Holness felt his oats and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was actively sending signals that its horse was fit, furious and headed for the winner’s circle, a certain vibe was in the air indicating that a strong, second term was a sure thing set in stone for the JLP.

With present polls encouraging major speculation, a grand guessing game and a refusal to line up, there is still a vibe favouring the JLP but it’s not as strong as in 2020 to rule out a chance for the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP).

My feel on the chances held by both political parties is that the swing the PNP would need includes a huge drawback from a 49-14 walloping by the JLP, reclaiming the 14 then picking up an additional 18 to claim the win of 32. From there the PNP would then jockey for a trot of added seats to show strength and oomph among the electorate. In other words it’s no ‘buck up’ but still a heavy load.

A number of political debates have been held but I still harbour doubts about the effectiveness of these on the voting behaviour of our people. We know of course that the largest chunk of voters will come from those who make up ‘traditional’ JLP and PNP voters.

Because the country, in these modern times has never had physical development on the level that has been laid over the last 10 years, lukewarm JLP supporters could provide another batch while a chunk of PNP supporters could be prepared to throw cold water at that and show up on September 3 to hurt the JLP.

At a certain stage we will have to place good policy of yesteryear on the backburner and focus on what has been more fitted for the present times. NHT (1970s), HEART, Newport West (1960s onwards) and even way back to take a glimpse of developing Negril (late 1950s to early 1960s).

I have stated this before. Many years ago a trip from the Norman Manley airport would not require any right turn in the St Thomas direction unless it was to visit a nine night involving a relative.

ROBERTSON’S BRAG AND BOAST

Member of parliament (MP) James Robertson may have landed on a little mountain of hyperbole when he suggested that he has been the most transformational MP of all 62 reps in Parliament. Apart from the very fact that my bredrin James is a politician and needs space to express his verbosity, much of what he says about the development of his constituency and larger St Thomas comes with the luck of the JLP administration’s overall push.

Morant Bay Urban Centre. A big spend. He mentions two tertiary level institutions (UCC, HEART/NSTA Trust) and the creation of thousands of jobs. He mentions roads which is the obvious ones. He has proudly spoken of seven bridges to be built in his rural community. Robertson said that in his hilly St. Thomas Western constituency there has been Jamaica’s largest rural investment, featuring 12-gravity fed catchment systems, underground pipelines and new wells.

Well Mr. Robertson whenever I turn on my pipe from outside all I get is air. That’s not in St. Thomas and it’s not rural. Just a little place called Havendale. “I am the number one MP in transforming”. Wow! big chat. “I challenge any of the other 62 MP’s including the PM to show me where they have done more.”

Seems as if this is one constituency which will see the PNP challenger as political detritus. That is, if Robertson’s chat is solid substance that is felt. What is quite obvious is that as much as no one parish, no single constituency has 100 per cent of the social and economic development it needs, St. Thomas is definitely no longer the forgotten parish.

CATCH THE BALL AGAIN ANDREW

One can either make a bet that come September 3, there will be a repeat of 2020 or PM Holness will be the history that was never made. I know that he and the bright political pragmatists in the JLP will be earmarking some of those constituencies which have promised in the past but seem to be failing now. At this time they are making hurried fixes to catch the old vibe of 2020 and catch that late surge.

Mark Golding’s best hopes lie with those of his PNP supporters who saw the dark light and slept through that September day in 2020 suddenly waking up and bringing a last minute surprise on September 3. They need that win while facing a JLP which has not convinced itself that it is down and out and not ready to jump at the starting gate.

Last week Wednesday while I was at a vegetable stall shopping. I was joined by a taxi driver who I knew as an ardent PNP supporter since 2011. He was either in the mood for political confession or, he was trying to bum a beer.

“Mr. Mark di green a lick everything.” He knew from my writing that I had most recently supported the JLP and was likely to be doing so again.

“Really?” I said.

I gave him $350, enough for a beer and he left. Another man who I knew as supporting the JLP’s Juliet Cuthbert Flynn in the huge West Rural St. Andrew constituency said, ‘Don’t yu know him a socialist?”

“Why should it matter?” I thought. As I was about to drive off, the ‘socialist’ came to me. “Mr. Mark I know you don’t believe mi. Mi a support di green dis time. Mi have mi taxi and mi woman. Mi rent a likkle room. Mi si progress.”

‘Yu a drink another beer?” I asked.

“Maybe if wi buck up later.”

I didn’t know what to believe.

Whether it’s Minister Vaz proudly touting the rural bus service and foolish people in the PNP throwing cold water on a policy that can only do well with added support, Dr. Holness has always been seen as lending support to those ministers who are willing to do the heavy lifting. People have been seeing that even if it comes with a little touch of arrogance.

Today as I write it is Thursday, August 28. Six days and it will be over. As of now I am seeing the JLP as better deserving of its third straight term than the PNP walking in from the drought.

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