What we didn't know about the Jamaica Election Date

So Prime Minister Andrew Holness last night rang the bell which revealed the date of the Jamaica General Elections.  As we now know the date of the polls is Thursday December 29th preceded by nomination day on Monday the 12th.  

What we didn't know however is the reason behind him delaying the announcement until last night.  In his delivery at the mass meeting of the JLP in Mandeville he intimated that the addition and approval of the over 41,000 new names to the voters list was paramount to his decision.  He wanted to give those voters an opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

In addition to that he considered the Christmas celebrations in his decision, pointing out that he wanted people to take a break for the holidays and then hit the road again around the 28th.

Meanwhile the speculations and predictions were not very far off and It can be said that not many were surprised by the announcement. 

According to Section 21 of the Representation of the People's Act (ROPA), subsection 2:

"The day on which the poll for the taking of votes of the electors is to be held in case a poll is necessary, shall not be less than 16 days or more than 23 days after the day appointed as nomination day."

In addition to that,  

"The day appointed as nomination day pursuant to Subsection One, (of the Act) shall be at least five clear days after announcement of an election."

Therefore election day is hinged on the date of nomination and the nomination day is to be within a certain time frame of the announcement.  Subsection 1 of Section 22 of ROPA recounts that:

"Nomination day shall be such day other than a public holiday as may be appointed by the minister by notice in the Gazette, not being more than seven days after publication of the notice."

So we see folks, the political pundits do have something to work with and even the uninitiated among us could sense that the date was within that window between Christmas and the middle of January.  This will be Jamaica's 16th General Elections since Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944. 

The Leader of the PNP has asserted that her team is ready and so is the Electorial Office of Jamaica. This will make for an interesting battle as the charming and passionate Portia Simpson-Miller asserted that she is confident and prepared for any challenge.

The coming weeks of course will see the two sides debating the issues affecting the country and according to Mr. Holness the real campaign will be initiated soon.  His rhetoric was strong on policy and the appeal was targeted to the uncommitted voters.  It remains to be seen however how the manifestos will shape leading up to the December 29 polls.

I want to implore you again that we are all Jamaicans and irrespective of which party we support we are "ONE BLOOD", as my friend Junior Reid puts it.  And I will leave you with another appeal to practice tolerance in the name of Jamaica:  "Jamaica Land We Love".  

When Jamaica suffer we all suffer, when Jamaica excel we all excel and we are all proud to be Jamaicans.  Why can't we unite as we do when Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown take the track or when the Reggae Boyz unleash their swagger?  Are we so illiterate and blind to see that there is nothing to gain from instability of our country?  

While we mark the date of the General Elections in our calendar and the X in our minds (beside the Head or Bell) let us think on these things. Loyalty to Jamaica is first in our hearts.

One Love Jamaica

KEY REFERENCES:  

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLES ACT (PDF FILE)  

ELECTORIAL OFFICE OF JAMAICA