Dear Editor,
Prime Minister the Portia Simpson Miller knows more than anyone else in the People’s National Party (PNP) the negative effects of a long election campaign. The year 1980 was a prime example. Under former prime minister, the late Michael Norman Manley, the 1980 election campaign was far too long. Several allegations were made about foreign intervention in our political affairs by our neighbours to the North, but the campaign was too long.
Simpson Miller may well have had to bury the most dead of all the candidates in that election. Men dressed in military fatigues and blue denim would enter various parts of the constituency and open gunfire killing young men. I know what I am speaking about as a private informal transport contractor contracted to a funeral home to provide hearse service. We would be called to pick up a body; however, we would return to base with four, as the police would escort us to other sections of the constituency to pick up others.
I vividly recall in 1980 after the completion of a funeral service for supposed People’s National Party supporters at St Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, on Molynes Road, the cortege made its way to the No Five Cemetery in Spanish Town (Tawes Pen) — located in a Jamaica Labour Party stronghold. When the cortege arrived at the cemetery a mob was there waiting, and after someone shouted, “Dem nah bury yah”, they proceeded to demolish the vaults as the police stood by helpless. The bodies had to be taken back to Kingston, where they were later interred in the May Pen Cemetery.
I agree with the short election campaign. The clause which makes it possible was not in existence in the 1980s.
However, I trust that by the time of the next general election after this one — constitutionally due in 2021 — the constitution will be amended to set: 1) A fixed election date 2) Term limits 3) Separation of powers
I pray to God that no lives will be lost in this election campaign and that the Government and Opposition will have the necessary amendments made to the constitution.
Joseph M Cornwall Sr, JP
Managing director/CEO
tranquillityfh@yahoo.com
Prime Minister the Portia Simpson Miller knows more than anyone else in the People’s National Party (PNP) the negative effects of a long election campaign. The year 1980 was a prime example. Under former prime minister, the late Michael Norman Manley, the 1980 election campaign was far too long. Several allegations were made about foreign intervention in our political affairs by our neighbours to the North, but the campaign was too long.
Simpson Miller may well have had to bury the most dead of all the candidates in that election. Men dressed in military fatigues and blue denim would enter various parts of the constituency and open gunfire killing young men. I know what I am speaking about as a private informal transport contractor contracted to a funeral home to provide hearse service. We would be called to pick up a body; however, we would return to base with four, as the police would escort us to other sections of the constituency to pick up others.
I vividly recall in 1980 after the completion of a funeral service for supposed People’s National Party supporters at St Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, on Molynes Road, the cortege made its way to the No Five Cemetery in Spanish Town (Tawes Pen) — located in a Jamaica Labour Party stronghold. When the cortege arrived at the cemetery a mob was there waiting, and after someone shouted, “Dem nah bury yah”, they proceeded to demolish the vaults as the police stood by helpless. The bodies had to be taken back to Kingston, where they were later interred in the May Pen Cemetery.
I agree with the short election campaign. The clause which makes it possible was not in existence in the 1980s.
However, I trust that by the time of the next general election after this one — constitutionally due in 2021 — the constitution will be amended to set: 1) A fixed election date 2) Term limits 3) Separation of powers
I pray to God that no lives will be lost in this election campaign and that the Government and Opposition will have the necessary amendments made to the constitution.
Joseph M Cornwall Sr, JP
Managing director/CEO
tranquillityfh@yahoo.com