JAMAICA:LOCAL ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001686

SIPDIS

SIPDIS, SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JOE TILGHMAN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCOR SOCI JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA:LOCAL ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED

REF: KINGSTON 1681

Summary
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1. (U) Fresh from their first successful Parliamentary elections in
18 years the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is poised to carry that
success over to local elections. Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding
recently announced that the local elections for over 200 local
government seats will be held on December 5. The JLP currently
controls 11 of the 13 regional councils; the exceptions are
Westmoreland and Portland which are held by the People's National
Party (PNP) along with the directly elected mayor of Portmore
municipality. (Note: Since independence in 1962 only twice have the
local elections gone to the opposition immediately following the
national Parliamentary elections. The most recent exception was the
2003 local elections which were won by the then-opposition JLP. End
Note.)

The Parties
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2.(U) At their 64th annual party conference, PM Golding announced
that the JLP plans to vigorously contest all positions in the
December local elections. A jubilant crowd of JLP supporters and
party members loudly supported Golding's request to mobilize the JLP
faithful all over the island in support of the JLP cause in the
upcoming election. Golding, whose birthday is on Election Day,
stated that he wanted a resounding victory at the polls for his
birthday present. (Note: The JLP announced 228 candidates,
including a handful who were unsuccessful in their bids for
Parliament in September. End Note.)

3.(SBU) The PNP also announced a full slate of 228 candidates for
all available seats in the local elections. However, the sources
within the PNP admit that campaign coffers are close to empty, so
the support will be left to the regional bodies of the party. In
recent media reports, PNP General Secretary Donald Buchanan admitted
that the party is experiencing a funding shortfall.

4.(U) The National Democratic Movement, the party formed by Golding
when he walked away from the JLP in the 90s, announced only three
candidates because of a shortage of campaign funds and falling
popularity. The Rastafarian Imperial Ethiopian World Federation
Incorporated Political Party (IEWFIPP) announced three candidates.
Nationwide, there also were 11 announced independent candidates.

Preparations for the Polls
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5.(U) Starting on Nomination Day, November 19, a broad-based
committee will begin monitoring all activities relating to the
upcoming Local Government Elections. Political Ombudsman Bishop
Herro Blair and Director of Elections Danville Walker are
co-Chairmen. The Committee also includes senior members of the
Jamaica Constabulary Force and meets daily until the December 5
polls. The election observer group Citizens Action for Free and
Fair Elections (CAFFE) will have teams in place to monitor the
December 5 polls. Police, military, and election day workers will
go to the polls early, on November 29.

Conclusion
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6.(SBU) As Nomination Day for the Local Elections passed, the JLP
appears set to repeat their recent victories at the ballot box.
Recent scandals, such as the free light bulbs from Cuba, the
Transfigura scandal and a less focused response from a PNP party low
on funds likely mean the JLP will once again have a majority in most
of the 13 regional councils. (Reftel)

HEG