Henry-Wilson, left, and Baugh
Garwin Davis, Assistant News Editor
THE island's political parties are promising a clean election campaign, noting they will be focusing on the issues rather than engaging in the usual politics of mud-slinging and character assassination.
However, the governing People's National Party (PNP) and the main opposition, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), are quick to warn that the promise can only be kept if there is not a provocation from either side.
"We are going to run a campaign where the issues will be our focus," explained Maxine Henry-Wilson, the General Secretary of the PNP. "Yes, we know that campaigns are usually robust and that people will get excited. What we are saying, however, is that they don't have to be vulgar. I must say, though, that we reserve the right to respond to whatever attacks may come our way. It cannot be that we sit back and allow others to slander us."
The PNP General Secretary said that her party has a case to take to the people and will maintain what she called "a dialogue" throughout the campaign.
Asked if the electorate is really interested in hearing about the issues, Mrs. Henry-Wilson said, "there was a time when we used to have deep discussions Norman Manley was very good at that. But you know what his detractors said? They said he didn't speak the language of the people and was out of touch with the electorate."
JLP General Secretary, Dr. Ken Baugh, said that it suited his party to run a campaign based on the issues, noting that to do otherwise "We would be giving up the advantage we have going into the election. The PNP is vulnerable on the issues and that will be our focus. They don't have a case to take to the people we do."
Asked whether the party hierarchy could control its supporters from engaging in gutter politics, Dr. Baugh said, "It all starts from the top. If you are offering yourself for leadership then you must understand that it comes with some basic responsibilities. We have come under some heavy attacks from the PNP and at all times we have restrained ourselves. The people will be our judges but I can tell you now, we do not intend to be the aggressor in this campaign."
Dr. Baugh, however, threw out the same warning as his opposing number in the PNP, saying that "the tone of any battle is always set by the aggressor," and that his party would respond to attacks.
Election campaigns in Jamaica, when not characterised by violence, are usually marred by mud-slinging rhetoric.
The PNP, starting with the Michael Manley Government of the 1970s, has used and continues to use the My Leader Born Ya (Heavy Manners) song to devastating effect. The subtle theme of the song pointing to the fact that opposition leader, Edward Seaga, was not born in Jamaica. Mr. Seaga has always maintained that he felt the song connotes elements of racism.
The JLP, for its part, particularly in last year's by-election in North East St. Ann, has played a similar game. Clearly pandering to the homophobic nature of the society, they have used the song Chi Chi Man, a song that some interprets as advocating violence against homosexuals, as their campaign theme. It also forced Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to make a national declaration last year that he is not a homosexual.
President of the United People's Party (UPP), Antonnette Haugh-ton-Cardenas, said she was not convinced by what the leaders of the two traditional parties are saying about wanting an issue-oriented campaign, noting that "talk is cheap".
"I am not so sure about that," she told The Sunday Gleaner in an interview yesterday. "What I experienced at what was supposed to be a national event in St. Mary yesterday (Friday) tells me that these guys are interested in winning by any means necessary. We have a message to take to the people and that will be our focus."
Mrs. Haughton-Cardenas said she was verbally abused and also threatened by PNP supporters at the opening of the civic centre in Port Maria. The Prime Minister was also in attendance.
Hugh Thompson, chairman of the National Democratic Move-ment (NDM), said that his party has always remain above the fray and had no intention from diverting from its message of hope for the people.
"There have never been an instance where our supporters or our candidates have had to resort to mud-slinging," he said. "The people who have to resort to that kind of politics are those who are usually short on message and believe that is the only thing they can do. People are tired of this kind of politics as is evident by all the disillusionment we see around the country. The people want to know that their Government has a plan to take the country forward."
