VZCZCXRO2580
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #1686 3251513
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211513Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5615
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

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 
--------- 
 
¶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 
------------- 
 
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 
---------------------------- 
 
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 
----------- 
 
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