London, England – While Jamaica went to the polls on Monday, their countrymen in this country watched and waited anxiously for the outcome of the 2007 election. They may not have been able to cast a vote, but the Jamaicans in the United Kingdom still have a vested interest in the winner, and according to sources, have been following the process very carefully.

“Some people over here, of course, would love to vote,” says Burchell Whiteman, high commissioner to the United Kingdom, lightheartedly, “but I doubt this is something that will change under either government.”

Voting rights aside, however, Whiteman adds that Jamaicans in the UK (and elsewhere overseas) should not be ignored.

“Jamaicans in the UK have an open mind when it comes to politics,” he says. “They respect their fellow Jamaicans on ‘The Rock’ and the decisions they make regarding choosing a government.”

However, with specific concerns related to the conduct of the elections, the violence that ensued and especially the image of Jamaica during this time, the Jamaicans in the UK followed the campaign with interest. Whiteman explains that on the whole, they view the results as a representation of the democratic process at its best, with people getting out to vote in appropriate conditions, with a result that evidently speaks to a very divided electorate. And just like their peers back home, they hope that the new government will use the catalyst of change and move the country to a new level.

Whiteman referred to the health sector as one of the more major concerns for Jamaicans in the UK. With such a substantial free public health service in the UK, decisions to move home (especially for the older generation) are marred by options offered by Jamaica’s health system. However, it is also the level of crime, which remains a pivotal point for overseas Jamaicans.

Michael Williams agrees. As the director of More3, a marketing consultancy firm based in London that has worked consistently with Jamaican companies to help establish themselves within the UK market, Williams is well versed on issues affecting Jamaicans in the UK, as well as at home.

Crime and violence are central issues to Jamaicans overseas, as they continue to tarnish the image of the country, along with the economy. “If you can improve these two scenarios, everyone would benefit,” he says. “Investors, tourists, and Jamaicans abroad would see the true potential in the country if its appearance was different. That inevitably would turn around the entire country.”

Williams says that there seems to be a general perception of Portia Simpson Miller’s continued lack of vision and inability to articulate a competent plan for the country. “It seems that many people believe Portia failed to understand her strengths and weaknesses,” he says. “It is hard to point to one single thing, one single vision that will remain as her legacy, and that was one of her downfalls.”

He adds, “Jamaican politics is all about ‘leader versus leader’, and while this is not the perfect scenario, it is why it was so close. No one was sure that Bruce Golding and the JLP were the right party, but they were looking for a change after 18 years, where a political party – in whatever country – will have the tendency to abuse power. That is why the vote was so divided.”

As an outspoken voice in British politics, Derek Laud, of Jamaican roots, has been entrenched in politics since working as a political researcher as well as a speech writer in the House of Commons and House of Lords. He came to prominence in the early 1990s as the first black member of the right-wing Monday Club. However, he is more popularly known for his appearance in Britain’s Big Brother in 2005.

“I say ‘Hallelujah’ that there is now a Jamaican government in power with conservative principles,” he says. “It is one of liberty, self-promotion, representing the ‘can-do’ society, and one of setting people free.”

And while he is evidently pleased with the outcome, he adds that it is no doubt unfortunate for Simpson Miller, as the first female to lose in this way. “She wasn’t really in the position long enough to really incite any change,” he says, “and in fact, spent most of her time being forced to defend PJ’s record.”

Interestingly, one point Laud makes regarding the elections was the turnout, commenting that Jamaicans in the UK should be as interested in politics as they are in Jamaica. “One of the striking things about the election in Jamaica was that people stood patiently in lines to vote, not something Jamaicans in the UK are usually known for doing,” he says. “In Britain, we still have to be forceful to galvanise Jamaicans to vote in London.”

While he believes the turnout was impressive, what was not so was the violence that was associated with the campaigns.

“This is another difference,” Laud says. “While Jamaicans may not utilise their right to vote in London, when they do, they are marred by violence, an issue that must be condemned. The value of democracy and human life is invaluable and needs to be respected. They must recognise the moral integrity of systems that are in place.”

While the JLP win was a positive move for Laud, Amina Taylor, a well-known columnist and voice for the Black British community was of the opposite opinion. “I am actually quite disappointed that the PNP were ousted,” she says, “not because I am a staunch supporter, but because I felt like we needed something new, something that would distance us from the ‘Old Boys Club’ network. Portia was it.”

She adds that while (as a Jamaican abroad) she understands the difficulty of navigating the political scene, she had hoped and believed that the days of intimidation and violent elections had passed.

“How can we expect to operate on the international scene if we can’t have violence-free elections?” she asks. And as to whether the correct decision was made, “We just watch with baited breath,” she says.