JLP suggests love for women will work for party
BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large South/Central Bureau myersg@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, December 18, 2011
JUNCTION, St Elizabeth — They shied away from specifics while using vague language.
However, leading platform speakers appeared to suggest at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) mass rally in Junction on Friday night that "love", admiration and preference for women will work in favour of the party in the December 29 polls.
Relying heavily on the vernacular, West Portland candidate Daryl Vaz argued that "when it come to candidates they (Opposition People's National Party - PNP) can't match us, we have the best slate of candidates that we have fielded in decades, we have 13 boonoonoonus pretty women, the most woman ever fielded in an election (in Jamaica)".
By contrast, he said, the PNP only had "five" women and "to make up the 13, dem have some 'mantu'. Dem have from the east where I come from all the way to down here..."
Vaz, who was speaking before the arrival of Prime Minister Andrew Holness to the platform, seemed to question the lifestyle of those he had referred to as "mantu".
"Dem nuh look right, dem nuh look right, dem nuh wear dem jeans pon dem waist and look like chah cha bwoy whe love girl and love woman. Dem nuh have pretty wife like Chris Tufton, Daryl Vaz, Frank Witter, Jeremy Palmer and the rest of wi," said Vaz.
Holness and JLP Deputy Leader and Cabinet Minister Chris Tufton framed their comments in the context of the traditional PNP stronghold of North East St Elizabeth which they claimed was now ripe for the taking.
Corris Samuels, who lost to the PNP's Kern Spencer by more than 2,000 votes in 2007, will be representing the JLP against the PNP's Raymond Pryce in NE St Elizabeth. Pryce entered the campaign less than two months ago after the PNP dropped the once fast-rising Basil Waite.
In saluting Samuels in front of thousands of green-clad, horn-blowing Labourites packed into Junction square, Holness urged him to appeal to the women of the parish as well as demonstrate his long-standing loyalty and presence in the constituency.
"Corris, come centre stage," declared an upbeat Holness. "Now, I want you to understand that what they thought was not possible is all of a sudden very possible. Corris Samuels, I am charging you to take home North East St Elizabeth for the Jamaica Labour Party," he said.
"You Corris, you are going to appeal to the women of St Elizabeth, you are going to show them that you love and respect the women of St Elizabeth. You are going to show the young people of St Elizabeth — I want you to listen to me carefully — you are going to show the young people of St Elizabeth that you are a straight up man. You are going to show the young people that you are a truthful and honest man and that you have their interest at heart. Corris, you are going to show the people that you love them genuinely, that you care for them genuinely, that you have been there with them for the longest while and that you don't just arrive on the scene," the prime minister added.
"As far as I am concerned, we going to take St Elizabeth four love, four love...," the prime minister said to thunderous applause.
In outlining the strengths of the JLP in St Elizabeth, Tufton also weighed in on "love" for women.
"As far as Corris Samuels is concerned, just remember one thing; Labourite love dem woman, and the woman dem love Labourite man," he said.
Mayor of Kingston and West Kingston candidate, Desmond McKenzie, claimed that "I can attest to the fact that Labourite woman love Labourite man; as a matter of fact, Labourite woman love all good men..."
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12/18/2011
Dem politicians tek people fi fool cant believe we have lef up de managment of the country to dem idiots deh
12/18/2011
@ Vivian Brown you missed the message , read again, its not fair skin and long hair.
The message his hidden and subtle .
12/18/2011
I guess we will sit down on our little island and continue to think Sun Sea and Sand is enough!!! sad!!! It is not enough – just take a look at Dubai and you will realize anyone can buy sand and anyone can make sea. ? Well I hope we wake up soon and realize that on the international stage we will need to fix human rights issues. We must be a government for ALL people.
12/18/2011
After reading the article in the Jamaican Observer, of Sunday, December 18th “JLP suggests love for women will work for party” I must say I am very much offended. Is this the slackness, nasty and discrimination that the JLP who had my vote supports? It is low live people, who can’t fight and win based on our credibility and hardworking results, turn to personal attacks. I am very offended by this article and it is in no way "suggestive" it is very clear what was being said.
12/18/2011
What love for women? This is mere Republican Party-inspired identity politics by the JLP.
Come on people. We shouldn't be surprised by Vaz's verbal diarrhea. it is merely the latest evidence that the JLP KNOWS its supporters have no intelligence to disrespect.
12/18/2011
Vaz has every right to say these things. Its the Jamaican people who allowed these misguided guys to classified our precious women into worth and worthless categories. Portland has the highest illiterate rate among all parishes, these people cannot read, so these are the people Vaz tried to impress. He ought to voted out of office once and for all. He has belittled the women of colour, marginalized them as being ugly and inferior, and make a fool of himself and those females who support him.
12/18/2011
Respect for women look at the PNP's leadership race??
12/18/2011
There are times when u have to call a spade spade
12/18/2011
G2K need to show some respect to Mrs Portia Simpson-Miller before they talk about loving and respecting women! Who the JLP think they can fool ?
12/18/2011
The "pretty" wives that they are referring to are all light skinned women with long hair.So you women who are supporting these particular politicians if you are not light skinned with long then you should consider yourselves "ugly". Such nonsense coming from these men when they should be talking about real issues.
12/18/2011
The PNP have five and a half women, i guess Mr. Vaz forgot about the candidate in St. Elizabeth that love to trace. In fact that candidate can beat PSM in a tracing match.
12/18/2011
once again, Daryl Vaz put his foot in mouth, speaking out of context, speaking rubbish. If hes lucky enough to win his seat, he should not become part of any Government. This is a low blow to women, to progress, and a low blow to Jamaica today. Im sure he willl issue an appology shortly saying his own words blaming the journalist who wrote this for misquoting him. Sad Sad Sad.
12/18/2011
To be straight with you all, I do not think the PNP should have put forward Mr. Pryce as the candidate there. I do recognize Mr. Pryce's intelligence and intellectual capabilities but there are some things which matter more. Bruce said it all in a BBC interview , wish Portia would say the same.
12/18/2011
I think Mr. Vaz's statements are shallow and out of touch…Mr. PM, please continue to stay on message and give good counsel to men like Mr. Vaz...Jamaica is for all Jamaicans not just the pretty/regular, those that some may consider to be different should be cajoled into understand that they too belong, for a beautiful garden is full of many colours, not necessary all of one colour. Out of Many We are One People!
12/18/2011
I think Mr. Vaz's statements are shallow and out of touch…Mr. PM, please continue to stay on message and give good counsel to men like Mr. Vaz...Jamaica is for all Jamaicans not just the pretty/regular, those that some may consider to be different should be cajoled into understand that they too belong, for a beautiful garden is full of many colours not necessary all of one colour. Out of Many We are One People!
12/18/2011
LOL @ Mantu!
12/18/2011
@Nadine Johnson .take a look at the PNP candidate and read between the lines.they just cant say it out loud but even the blind can see that
12/18/2011
It is sad that in Jamaica in 2012, people like Vaz continue to accuse people who look and act a certain way . Did you know that recently a son in Jamaica killed his father because he called him a girl? Jamaicans need to stop calling people names that "feminize them" or accuse them of being homosexual. Living in New York has revealed to me that not all men who have lots of women, are married with pretty wives, or very masculine (thugs) are straight. These masculine men are "DL" .
12/18/2011
"Dem nuh look right, dem nuh look right, dem nuh wear dem jeans pon dem waist and look like chah cha bwoy whe love girl and love woman. Dem nuh have pretty wife like Chris Tufton, Daryl Vaz, Frank Witter, Jeremy Palmer and the rest of wi," said Vaz.
What stupidness this broken Vaz telling people, why would i waste my time go listen to this foolishness from leaders. no wonder Jamaica is like this cause listen what they telling people.KMT
