'Poll win' for Jamaica opposition

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Jamaica's opposition Labour Party (JLP) has won the general election, ending an 18-year reign by the People's National Party (PNP), preliminary results show.

The JLP, led by Bruce Golding, has taken 31 out of the 60 seats in parliament, election officials said.

But Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica's first woman Prime Minister, has not acknowledged defeat and indicated that the PNP would challenge the result.

Crime, poverty and high unemployment were the main issues in the campaign.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6975598.stm

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Note - despite the name, the Jamaica Labour Party is to the right of the People's National Party - see eg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Labour_Party

[David__77]

1. That's too bad.

I had understood that Miller was pretty progressive for that country. I cannot help, though, but think of the terrible social atmosphere for gay people in Jamaica, and how no political groups openly support their social rights.

[Sgent]

2. Social rights?

they first have to rescind the felony laws for gay people.

[David__77]

3. Right. The "right" not to be prosecuted is the first step.

But I do consider it a matter of civil rights not to be legally persecuted for consensual sexual activity.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. Portia Simpson-Miller is no loss,

She was notorious for corruption and incompetance in most of the cabinet posts she has held over the last 15 years - she is nothing more than a useful idiot who would stay the course for the retiring Patterson,