Long election campaign could have negative economic impact, says Smith

 

With Jamaicans set to head to the polls for a general election this year, political commentator Lloyd B. Smith is urging Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness not to opt for a long campaign.

 

Mr. Smith says while timing is the art of politics and the Prime Minister will not call the general election until he feels sufficiently confident that the Jamaica Labour Party will win a third term, a long, drawn-out campaign could have a deleterious effect on the country's economy.

 

Speaking on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM, Mr. Smith noted that the general election is due by September this year. 

 

"The shorter time for the election campaign would be better for the country so that it can quickly settle down and deal with the major problems that are now rising. We also see the major headwinds coming in from outside of the country. There's a man named Trump that is going to take over on January 20. There may be many implications there for small developing states such as our in terms of food security, in terms of a number of trade factors and so on. So it means that the country needs to settle down as quickly as possible," he suggested. 

 

Mr. Smith also believes that there could be a massive budget for the next financial year to woo the electorate.  

 

"I suspect therefore that there will be a bonanza budget, come February-March, in order to further ensure the JLP's chances at the polls. As to the extent that may work, remains to be seen.... If it is a run-with-it budget, then God help us," said the commentator.  

  

Political pundit Damion Gordon believes Prime Minister Holness will wait until the Jamaica Labour Party gains momentum from the goodies that were rolled out last year before calling the general election.

 

Mr. Gordon added that more sweeteners could be announced during the new budget cycle and as such he believes it is highly likely that the parliamentary election could be held in the summer.

 

At the same time, he argued that the JLP's chances will become increasingly uncertain the longer the Prime Minister takes to announce a date for the election. 

 

"Because you don't know...what variables will characterise 2025 in terms of the international political landscape, given the fact that Trump will become president and that will have implications," he said, adding concerns about the uncertainty of the hurricane season as well as a possible economic recession. 

 

But Mr. Gordon believes Jamaicans should expect increased spending by the government as it seeks to appeal to the electorate. 

 

"I think in an election year, you know, political parties tend to suspend good sense. They tend to suspend principles of good governance. The focus in an election year is usually how to win. And if it means using state resources, if it means suspending your usual, you know, rhetoric; in the context of Jamaica, the usual rhetoric is that we have made gains in terms of fiscal discipline. But because it's an election year, and we need to win, we can be a little bit more flexible," he pointed out. 

 

Mr. Gordon was also speaking on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM.