Hope nomination day folly doesn’t cost us dearly
HEN DAYS before Tuesday’s nominations the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ditched Dr Ryan Simpson as one of its candidates for next month’s general election, this newspaper welcomed the decision. We respected the action even more when the party held its ground, despite some of its supporters in the constituency of St Ann South East threatening to withhold their votes if Dr Simpson was not on the ballot.
Cynics may well argue that the JLP, and its leader, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, could afford to be firm, given that any candidate selected – Dr Simpson included – faces an uphill task against the incumbent MP, the People’s National Party’s Lisa Hanna. She, in the 2016 election, gained nearly 63 per cent of the votes and had a majority of 3,315 over her JLP rival, Ivan Anderson.
We, however, took at face value the JLP’s account of its action – a matter of fundamental principles by the party in Government, which imposes policies to which all citizens are expected to adhere. Among them is the requirement that, during this period of the coronavirus pandemic, persons who return to Jamaica from certain countries have to undergo a fortnight’s isolation.
Dr Simpson, as a physician, would have understood the reason for this. He, however, breached the protocols, raising the possibility of spreading COVID-19 if, perchance, he was infected with the virus. To his credit, Dr Simpson publicly conceded his error and did not, at least in public, challenge his party’s sanction.
DEEPENS DISAPPOINTMENT
The JLP’s principled position in the Simpson matter, therefore, deepens our disappointment at the behaviour of the majority of the candidates, and supporters of that party, as well as those of the PNP, during Tuesday’s nomination exercises.
COVID-19 is a contagious, and potentially deadly disease that, globally, has infected around 22.5 million people and caused over three-quarters of a million deaths. In Jamaica, more than 1,100 people have contracted the disease and 14 people have died from it.
The virus is most efficiently spread when people are in close contact with each other and they ingest droplets expectorated by an infected person, maybe during a cough, or even while speaking. The best antidote to the disease is maintaining appropriate physical distance, wearing masks, and practising good hygiene, including the frequent washing of hands or other forms of sanitisation.
It is against this background that it was agreed that Jamaica, for this election, could not conduct a traditional campaign, with mass rallies, motorcades of packed buses and big marches through communities. Indeed, as this newspaper reminded a week ago, Trinidad and Tobago recently held a general election without a significant campaign rally.
Our protocols, developed between the health authorities, the parties and the political ombudsman, allow for small-group, whistle-stop tours, with people appropriately distanced and wearing masks. Motorcades are allowed, too, but with prescribed numbers in vehicles. They, too, should wear masks. Sanitisation facilities are supposed to be available.
DISCIPLINE COLLAPSED
Sadly, these agreements, for the most part, weren’t adhered to on nomination day. Discipline collapsed even before it was established. Party supporters, in the vicinity of nomination centres, engaged in the bacchanalia of the old-style campaign. Many packed in vehicles; very few wore masks.
We wish we could say that this did not apply to events surrounding the nominations of Prime Minister Holness and the opposition leader, Peter Phillips. We cannot. The carnivals happened, and at a time when infections from the coronavirus are on the uptick. It might have had a boost on Tuesday. We hope not.
Hopefully, the parties will reset. They should abandon further public events, or at least ensure that the rules are followed. Hopefully, Jamaica won’t pay a price for this nomination day folly.