PNP failings could be opportunities for the JLP - the opposition never had it better.

Colidez Sweet Music Jamaica Tech Life

The PNP led Jamaican government has found themselves in an unenviable position of late. Recent polls have been highlighting the dissatisfaction of the Jamaican populace with the country's management under the current set of political leaders.

The party has been found to be lacking transparency and accountability of late as the country grapples with multiple challenges. This has opened up a whole set of opportunities for the opposition to capitalize on, but will they?

With By-Elections to be held in the constituency of Central Westmoreland on December 1, 2014, following the untimely death of former Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke, Jamaicans have an opportunity to vindicate the performance of the incumbent party or unequivocally state their dissatisfaction with the status quo.

The candidates representing the various political parties in the December 1 by-election in the Central Westmoreland constituency handed in their nomination papers at the electoral office in Savanna-la-Mar on Wednesday, November 12, 2014. In the orange corner is the PNP representative, businessman Dwayne Vaz. In the green corner is JLP’s candidate, financial consultant Faye Reid-Jacobs. Last but by no means least; in the uncoloured corner is the independent candidate Ras Astor Black of the Jamaica Alliance Movement. This is a very strange boxing match.

It is interesting to note that in the 2011 General Elections, Roger Clarke then won the seat with 11,558 votes. His opponent at the time was Marlene Malahoo-Forte, she managed 8,484 votes.

This contest is highly expected to be testing ground for the current state of the campaign and election machinery of the major parties. But the issue on everyone's mind is how much will the results support or undermine the performance of the ruling party? Will the poll results be reflected in the actual voting? Were voters to choose based on issues this is some of the matters they could consider.

PNP Successes - JLP's Threats

To the credit of the PNP voters can look at the good list of achievements noted as follows:

• Fiscal deficit narrowing; down from 6.7% of GDP in 2011 to a balanced budget in this financial year.

• Growing primary surplus; the country ahead of the targets.

• Lower imports.

• Tourism arrivals are up by 4%.

• Murder rate for 2014 is down relative to the previous year. 16 per cent fall off in murders and other categories of serious crimes so far this year. The JCF data show that 846 persons were killed since the start of the year up until October 2014. 166 fewer murders than the 1,012 recorded for the corresponding period 2013.

• STATIN reports that 25,700 Jamaicans were employed this year over last year. Unemployment as a result is declining.

The above has resulted in:

• Unquantified growth in Foreign Direct Investments.• International bond market over-subscription with the lowest interest rates ever.

• Jamaica's improved ranking in the World Bank - Global Competitiveness Index.

• Jamaica's improved ranking in the World Economic Forum's - Ease of Doing Business Reprot.

• Jamaica has gotten a stable to positive outlook from S&P.

• Jamaica continues to perform positively while pass IMF monitored Economic Reform Programme tests.

All very positive for the nation.

PNP's Failings - JLP's Opportunities

On the opposite side of the equation:• Exchange rate and inflation. The Jamaican dollar has devalued so much it is a bit surprising that the country is still able to survive given the high dependency and cost of imports.

• The government failed to secure new and more efficient electricity generation capacity and cheaper energy future. As a result the country continues to suffer with high electricity prices.

• The country suffered through a major drought and one has to wonder if adequate measure are being put in place to deal with future occurrences. The risk of fires and frequent water lock off were almost unbearable and the lack of water almost severely impacted the education sector in the new school year. Is the leadership lacking here?

• Complete mismanagement of the Chikungunya outbreak resulting in the death of many people whether directly or indirectly.

• The security forces continue to fail to adequately address crime in the nation and high level of extra judicial police killings. Despite the numbers going down it just seem still too inadequate.

will the opposition be truly able to capitalize on this short comings.

• The invisible and inaudible Prime Minister. Is the leadership and the level of communication to the people of Jamaica from the leadership position acceptable? Question still hove over NHT and Outameni property. At the same time less grants are being made to the poor who cant afford a home.

Come December 1 will Jamaicans be voting for the candidate, the party, or the leader is anyone's guess but I believe despite all the failings of the PNP, the JLP will find it extremely difficult to win what has been considered a safe seat for many years. Given the numbers from the previous election JLP will potentially have to swing over 3,074 voters. As a result one could say that PNP has already won this seat. Given the numbers it would be hard to see a swing large enough to lead JLP to victory.

Will the people of Jamaica however really benefit in the end? If the answer is no wouldn't it be an opportune time for the people of the nation to make a statement and elect for the very first time an independent candidate.

Social Drinks of Jamaica