Vascianne
THE NEXT President of the United States, to be elected on Tuesday, should offer few surprises for Jamaica, according to local observers.
While few local politicians contacted by The Sunday Gleaner last week were willing to publicly pick the Democrat's Al Gore or Republican George W. Bush, a close advisor to the ruling People's National Party (PNP) said the Government should have no problem working with whichever party wins this week.
The source acknowledged that the PNP historically has had a closer relationship with the Democratic Party, and would, as the party in power, have developed a closer link to the corresponding party in power. He added that this year the PNP sent General Secretary Maxine Henry-Wilson to observe the Democratic convention.
The advisor also added, however, that "philosophy and ideology don't put bread on the table" and stressed that the PNP had no reason to fear a Bush election victory. University lecturer Dr. Stephen Vasciannie, a frequent commentator on international affairs, also believes the outcome of the election will make little difference for Jamaica, and the region will experience continuity in Caribbean/U.S. relations.
Dr. Vasciannie acknowledges that Mr. Gore is probably the sentimental favourite for people in the Caribbean, largely because of the historical link between the Democratic Party and the African-American community.
However, he said that factor had little to do with the external relations of the party. He also indicated that, ironically, it is the presence of a Jamaican-born African-American Republican which might separate both parties in terms of a perceived Jamaican stake in the outcome of the election.
The one "fly in the ointment," according to Dr. Vasciannie, is that a Bush victory might see Jamaican-born General Colin Powell appointed as Secretary of State. If that occurs, he said, "there should be reason to hope that greater attention would be placed on the Caribbean in a Bush administration."
The Powell factor aside, he said the stated foreign policy views of both candidates have "converged around support for pro-democracy movements, with very little emphasis attached to the developmental concerns of Third World countries."
On the environment, Dr. Vasciannie believes a Gore Cabinet would probably try to impose stronger environmental controls in the hemisphere, while on issues of international trade and investment, he expects both parties would continue the "Clintonesque" emphasis on hemispheric free trade and free movement of capital.
Businesswoman Thalia Lyn, operator of the Island Grill line of Jamaican fast-food eateries, favours a Democratic victory.
She believes the U.S. economy has and will continue to prosper under the party, and this, combined with a historical leaning towards the interests of minorities and developing countries, make the Democrats a better pick for Jamaica.
The businesswoman added that she is expanding her restaurant chain to the U.S. and has so far found the incumbent political authorities receptive and encouraging.
More pragmatic
Mrs. Lyn explained, however, that her husband, unlike her, supports the Republican Party. Airline pilot, Captain Michael Lyn, believes the Republicans are more pragmatic and so would be better for businesspersons and the economy of the region.
He dismissed talk of a booming economy under the Demo-crats, charging that they built on policies put in place by the Reagan/Bush Snr. era.
