By Vernon Daley, Staff ReporterBOTH PRIME Minister P.J. Patterson and Edward Seaga, the JLP leader, have brushed aside suggestions for a fixed election date.
On a rare point of agreement, both leaders argue that a fixed election date would unwisely rob the Jamaican people of the power to eject a government from office before its term runs its course.
Prime Minister Patterson told The Gleaner's Editors' Forum on Wednesday that under the country's parliamentary system, there was latitude to change a government during its term by an election, if that government had lost the trust of the people.
"This is one of the rare occasions where there is a view coming from the Leader of the Opposition with which I do not find the need to be in disagreement," said Mr. Patterson, who is president of the ruling People's National Party.
On Sunday, Mr. Seaga told supporters at a political meeting in Spaldings, Clarendon, that a fixed election date could spell trouble for the island.
"In our system, if a government chooses to be corrupt or incompetent or arouses the anger of the people, the current system which exists can bring down the government without having to wait for a special date," said Mr. Seaga, who heads the Jamaica Labour Party.
Prime Minister Patterson has kept the nation in suspense as he holds the election date close to his chest. This has generated anxiety and has led to renewed calls for a fixed election date.
The Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs made a call at its 85th annual general meeting in August for a fixed election date..
"The Institute unanimously agreed that the present form by which a single individual determines the dates on which the nation votes, is undemocratic and should be amended as early as possible," its statement said.
Under the institute's proposal, governments would serve out their terms for which they were elected or resign and call fresh elections within a specified time frame. Frank Phipps, Q.C., chairman of the institute, said the change would require only a majority vote in Parliament and that there was no need for a constitutional amendment.
Anthony Chang, who relinquished the presidency of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce this week, is also in favour of a fixed election date. He told The Gleaner last week that having a specified election date would remove the uncertainty which some members of the business community claim had affected their businesses.
He added, however, that while there was still nervousness among some business people, stemming from the uncertainty that hangs on the election, he did not think "it is as strong as before."
Prime Minister Patterson defended the current system this week, suggesting that there is likely to be greater tension under a system with a fixed election date than there is now.
"Certainly if you look at the United States, where there is a fixed election date, you will find that one election is hardly finished before the campaign for the next election has begun" he said.
