Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller dances as she presents the People's National Party candidates at a mass meeting in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew, on Sunday night. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Political watchers say the long wait to election day may be an indication the machinery of the People's National Party (PNP), is not yet ready for a contest.

The August 27 date announced by party president and prime minister Portia Simpson Miller Sunday night is too close to the new school year, they say, and is being used as a tool to buy the PNP more time and frustrate the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

'Don't buy story'

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, analyst Charlene Sharpe Pryce said the excuses given by the prime minister during her address for pushing the date to August 27 are weak and clearly indicate that the she is merely dragging the date farther to buy time for the party, and possibly irritate the JLP.

"As much as she is saying about the holiday period and the sanctity of emancipation, I really don't buy that story ...," Sharpe Pryce said, noting also that such a long period is not needed to pass the parliamentary bill for electoral reform mentioned as one of the reasons for the August 27 date.

"The party still has work to do and they still haven't quite prepared as they would want us to think for this election," Sharpe Pryce surmised.

Lack of advertising

That is also reflected she notes, in the party's lack of advertising since the start of campaigning. Generation 2000 (G2K), the group of young professionals affiliated with the JLP, has been capitalising from a monopoly of the airwaves so far and did so even more during the live coverage of the PNP's mass rally in Half-way Tree on Sunday.

Analyst, Richard Crawford said, while it seems the PNP's organisational capacity is ready, based on the crowd support it received in Half-Way Tree, the long wait for the election may be indicative that there are issues in the party that need to be refined before it can contest the polls.

"And the time could be to the benefit of the PNP ...," he said.

Meanwhile, the PNP has dismissed claims that the party is divided into two camps - one in favour of the August 27 election date and the other for a July date - and has said that it stands as a united entity.

Gleaner sources close to the PNP yesterday said that some persons inside the party felt that Mrs. Simpson Miller committed the cardinal sin by naming a general election date on the eve of the new school term.

However, Dr. Paul Robertson, the party's campaign director said that it is the first time that he is learning of such a division.

"I don't know of it at all," Dr. Robertson said.

"I would not doubt that in an organisation as big as the PNP one or two persons may have different views but certainly the leadership of the party and the rank-and-file are very pleased with the date announced," the campaign director added.

Mrs. Simpson Miller declared to a massive PNP meeting that Nomination day would be August 7 and Election day August 27.

Two other PNP candidates also said the party was united around the date.

"It is the very first time that I am hearing of these two camps. The party is united," commented Dr. Morais Guy, MP for Central St. Mary.

Dr. Patrick Harris, the MP for North Trelawny said that "the PNP is one big family. There is no camp in the PNP," Dr. Harris said.

Dr. Harris told The Gleaner that he was "surprised at the date" but added that he does not think the PNP will lose.

"I was expecting election at the end of July. I was planning for the end of this month but I do not have enough information to have come up with an informed date," Dr. Harris said.

Dr. Guy said he expects the party to benefit from the extended election campaign.

"She has given the party enough time to ensure that the machinery is well oiled," said Dr. Guy while adding that even if the election were announced for the end of July, the party would have been ready.

Patrick Roberts, who is challenging the JLP's Andrew Holness for the West Central St. Andrew seat said he would have loved for the election to be earlier.

"It will not hurt though. Some people wanted it earlier but it is the prime minister's prerogative. Whether the election is today, tomorrow or August 27, we will win. I will win because I am ready," Roberts said.