Diaspora
Jamaica Goes to Labor
By Michael Byfield—SeeingBlack.com Contributing Writer
Sep 11, 2007, 09:38

Bruce Golding

The people of Jamaica recently proved some modicum of political sophistication by electing Bruce Golding of the opposition Jamaica Labour Party to lead the nation for the next five years. Although the results are being challenged by Portia Simpson, leader of the People’s National Party, the change of leadership indicates the undercurrent and true sentiments of the majority of the nation.

The Jamaican Gleaner and other mainstream press report that Golding won because of Simpson’s poor performance in debates, coupled with a shoddy response in preparedness for Hurricane Dean, which recently damaged eastern and southern regions of the island.

In an interview earlier in 2006, Bruce Golding spoke about what he described as a serious crisis in Jamaica under the then leadership P.J. Paterson, who later resigned his position as leader of the PNP, making way for Mrs. Simpson as the first female leader in Jamaican political history. Mr. Golding said that Jamaica suffered from an excessively high deficit and high taxes to the working class.

He said that changes to the constitution and legislature had created an unbalanced tilt of power to the executive branch of prime minister during the 18- to 20-year period of National Party rule, creating a dangerous threat to democracy in Jamaica. Golding added that for the first time since independence, Jamaicans have lost confidence that government can protect their well being, citing major problems such as unemployment--which exceeds 38 percent--the erosion of free education, the shrinking value of the Jamaican dollar and the problematic relationship with the International Monetary Fund.

The following challenges will face the new administration in a post 9/11 world, which has affected Jamaica and the entire Caribbean area, along with other new travails of this century:
• Immigration ( deportees and the impact of Columbian and other immigrants)
• Unemployment ( poverty and a weak economy)
• Economy ( The formula used for the last 30 years has not worked.)
• Security ( Crime is still a major problem.)
• Poverty ( The gap between poor and wealthy /middle class has widened greatly)
• Energy ( Petroleum – this was a major issue in the 70’s and still is)
• Education – ( This is no longer free as it was 30 years ago.)
• Health Care- ( Same as Education—gradual erosion of free quality care)

The Organization of American States, which had 40 or more observers on the island, commended the overall election process as fair. Jamaican elections have been marred often by violence since the early 1970’s.


© Copyright by SeeingBlack.com