Caribbean & Central America - May 2007 (ISSN 1741-4458)

The pressure is growing on Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller to name the date for a general election. Constitutionally, an election must take place by October and the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is becoming increasingly insistent in its demand for an end to the speculation. After a disappointing Cricket World Cup for the West Indies, both as a team and as hosts, Simpson-Miller has not experienced the anticipated bounce in the polls. The JLP, meanwhile, has been celebrating the news it is ahead in one of the island's key constituencies which has gone to the party that ends up forming the government in every election since 1962.

Simpson-Miller lays out her plans
Despite her refusal to name a date, Simpson-Miller already appears to be in election mode. On 2 May the prime minister announced a wide range of measures designed to bolster support for her People's National Party (PNP). In a three and a half hour presentation, Simpson-Miller announced an increase in housing subsidies and school places as well as the abolition of health care fees for children.

In the same speech the prime minister dismissed critics of the newly built stadium used for the Cricket World Cup, saying that Jamaica is well positioned to develop sports tourism into a multi-billion dollar business. Simpson-Miller, a practicing Christian, also added that she would be stimulating the development of "faith tourism". "The entire Caribbean region has become known as a spiritual oasis and Jamaica with its strong religious base has significant potential for the faith market," she said.

Meanwhile, the government's finance minister, Omar Davies, has attacked the opposition JLP for its "ill advised and impractical proposals" advanced during the 2007-08 budget debate. In particular, Davies took umbrage at the party's suggestion that it would abolish all hospital and school fess once in office. "It is not becoming of leaders in a serious budget debate," he said. "Persons abroad, not understanding the games people play at election time, may take them seriously, what do we tell them?"

What the JLP say
In response, the JLP's finance spokesman, Audley Shaw, said that his party's proposals were feasible and would be outlined in his party's election manifesto. Shaw also accused Davies of failing to disclose how the initiatives Simpson-Miller had launched would be financed.  

Separately, the JLP general secretary, Karl Samuda, said the party was losing patience with the government's failure to call an election. "You have less than six months when we are constitutionally required to hold an election, we just need to cut the drama and get down to the reality," he said, arguing that the continued delay is likely to affect planned socio-economic programmes for the island.  

The PNP, which has been in power for the past 18 years, is seeking an unprecedented fifth term in office, but recent opinion polls have shown the party to be trailing the JLP, including in the constituency of St Elizabeth South West, which has gone to the eventual winner since independence.  

• Finance minister
  Jamaica's Minister of Finance and Planning, Omar Davies, dismissed claims that the JA$9 billion (US$135m) incurred as part of the country's preparation for the hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 could have been better directed at interventions in the social sector. Davies, who closed the 2007/08 Budget Debate in the House on 2 May, explained that a portion of the funds was in the form of in-kind donation and hence could not be used for any other purpose.