The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on Earth. — Thomas J Jackson

The by-election in St Mary South Eastern is eight days from today. Two weeks ago I predicted a win for the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Dr Norman Dunn. Then, I based my prediction on poll findings of a credible pollster as told to me. I did not indicate what size of a win. Given information which I gathered last Saturday, and on National Heroes’ Day, in the constituency, and findings from credible polls which a very kind soul put under my door, plus a well-oiled Jamaica Labour Party machine that has covered St Mary South Eastern from end to end, I can now say Dr Dunn will cross the finish line very comfortably ahead of the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Dr Shane Alexis.

The Dunn Effect

During stops on the major and minor roads, and in the nooks and crannies of the constituency, folks consistently gave me three broad reasons Dr Dunn is their preferred candidate:

1. Dr Dunn born ya: The vast majority of the folks I chatted with informally expressed the view that Dr Dunn was one of them. They felt he knew their hurt, has lived many of their experiences, and could best coordinate possible solutions to major problems. Several constituents said that Dr Dunn’s tangible business and family ties in the parish recommended him as a more reliable and trustworthy candidate. Some said Dr Dunn had something more personal to lose were he to fail as a Member of Parliament. A retired civil servant in Chovey exclaimed: “Only Dr Dunn is putting down his own money. That is why I favour him more.”

2. Dr Dunn is always here: A factor that came up repeatedly in discussions was that Dr Dunn was very visible in St Mary South Eastern even after the five-vote loss in the February 25, 2016 General Election. “Maas Keith”, a farmer in Rock River, sunk his machete into a tree stump beside him, then remarked, “Mek mi tell you why mi a go vote fi Dr Dunn. You see even after him did lose, him never lef’ wi out. Any likkle thing, him deh yah.”

Perlie, a small shop owner in Cane Heap, delivered similar views while she bemoaned the state of the roads from Richmond to Cane Heap and surrounding communities. “See no road, no road. What a disgrace! For a trute, Dr Green did try him best. He was a nice man. I sorry him pass off like dat. But now that him dead and gone lef wi, life have fi guh on. Dr Dunn is a son of St Mary. I know him personal. I will take a chance with Dr Dunn this time. Dr Dunn is wi own.”

Peter, a young technical worker in Annotto Bay, told me he loved all the attention the constituency was getting. “I wish wi did have election every year. Everybody know Natta Bay now,” he exclaimed while obviously trying to hold back a smile across his face. “Most of dem wi see now, wi nah see afta Octoba 30. Mi a go vote for the second time. It don’t make sense vote fi Mr Shane. Yuh see, is just recent him come ’bout here. I doah like dat. I see Dunn as the man who can carry in some jobs fi di yute dem. Him is big-time businessman. Nuff yute need work right yah now.”

Dr Dunn is a community worker. Ms Birdie, an educated lady in the near evening of her years, who described herself as a community worker in Castleton, Broad Gate, Devon Pen, Grandehoe and other communities, told me that she was still smarting from the non-performance of Harry Douglas during his 18-and-a-half-year stint. She noted she was largely turned off from politics. She made this revealing comment, however: “I have lived in South East St Mary all my life. I was born here. I have served this constituency all my life. If I vote, I will do so for someone who is just like me.”

3. Dr Dunn is a man of his word: A third reason many constituents gave me for why they will cast a vote for Dr Dunn is the reputation he has for keeping his word. Joanie, a housewife in Enfield, said among other things, “You see if Dr Dunn tell you seh him going to help you wid something, him nah figet. You can put on yuh pot on fire in the meantime.”

Charlie, the owner of a thriving streetside restaurant near Devon, which borders St Mary South Eastern and East Portland, told me that Dr Dunn helped him to get his first small business loan. As he swung from Standard Jamaican English to snippets of patois he told his touching story: “Boss, I will never forget the kindness of Dr Dunn. I was down on mi face a few years ago. A friend introduce me to Dr Dunn at a community get-together at Gray’s Inn. I did not have anything to lose, suh I just went up and talk with him. I tell him bout my struggles and the idea for this business. He said, I am going to help you, because at one time I was just where you are. Two weeks after I got a call from Dr Dunn. He worked with me step by step. He put me in touch with some people and show me how to do the paperwork and suh. Today I am an independent man. I can feed my family and turn my own key. Dr Dunn is a man of his word.”

*Names were changed for privacy and security reasons.

Threat to climb ‘eleven step’ [court]

I find it very curious that the PNP is threatening legal action against Howard Chamberlain, president of Young Jamaica, the JLP’s youth arm. This apparently for information that was placed in the public square by the PNP itself.

Recall these remarks by president of the People’s National Party Peter Phillips a few weeks ago. The occasion was Phillips’s official introduction of Dr Shane Alexis to the constituents of St Mary South Eastern.

Dr Alexis stood right alongside Dr Phillips while the remarks were retailed. Alexis visibly shook his head with seeming approval as Phillips made these remarks: “He was trained in a programme in Cuba, programmes opened up by the People’s National Party to give ordinary Jamaican people a chance at a first-rate professional education.”

In a press release on October 14, 2017, 89 Old Hope said, among other things: “The People’s National Party has taken note of a press release issued by Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the Jamaica Labour Party, contents of which have been published in the media. The party wishes to state definitively that, contrary to the assertions made in the press release, Dr Shane Alexis was not granted a scholarship through the Jamaica/Cuban programme which over many years has afforded Jamaicans the opportunity to study in the neighbouring country free of cost. Dr Alexis studied at his family’s expense, and to his credit has spent all of his professional years serving the Jamaican people in the public health system.”

But in a recent interview with Loop Jamaica, Dr Alexis said, “And it was in that year that the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to do medicine came up. My grandfather is who suggested it. I guess he saw something in me that he thought would make me into a good doctor. And I applied, I got the scholarship, and the rest is history.”

The PNP’s communication apparatus, at minimum, seems not only confused, but tremendously confused.

Why did Dr Alexis not apply to become a Jamaican citizen?

I received dozens of e-mail and social media comments in relation to my article last week. Some PNP people were evidently extremely upset by it. Some even argued that I took what Alexis said on a local radio programme with regard to why he did not apply to become a Jamaican out of context.

I rather doubt it. But just maybe the political ostriches will accept this second source.

“People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for South East St Mary, Dr Shane Alexis, says he did not apply for Jamaican citizenship because ‘the necessity did not present itself’ in his day-to-day life before his entrance into representational politics.

“Alexis’s nationality became a hot topic earlier this week when the ruling Jamaica Labour Party revealed that he was a Canadian citizen who does not hold a Jamaican passport.

“Alexis addressed the issue in an interview with Loop Jamaica on Wednesday:

“ ‘I didn’t start my journey to become a politician, so I was able to do all the things everyone was able to do, and so the necessity (to apply for Jamaican citizenship) did not present itself in my day-to-day life,’ Alexis said, noting that the application process is an onerous one.

“He added, ‘Now that my life has changed to become a political representative, it’s more of a necessity, but it doesn’t change the work I have done for the country or the plans I have for it.” ( Loop Jamaica, [posted on] October 12, 2017)

Congrats to security forces

Our security forces deserve commendation for their recent successes with regard to the taming of certain public predators and the recovery of significant numbers of guns and ammunition.

This story in the Jamaica Observer, last Wednesday, I believe puts a very recent feather in the cap of our security forces and doubtless stimulated public confidence.

“The police have revealed that the 19 illegal firearms that were yesterday found at the Kingston Freeport Terminal in Newport West arrived at the facility in a shipment from the United States of America.

“The firearms, seized by detectives assigned to the Narcotics Division along with the Jamaica Customs Agency, the Contraband Enforcement Team (CET), are:

• six rifles

• one intratec submachine gun

• six Glock pistol

• two Taurus 9mm pistol

• one smith and Wesson 9mm pistol

• one Guger pistol

• one Heckle & Koch pistol

• one Cobray pistol and hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunition.

“The firearms and a large quantity of assorted rounds of ammunition were reportedly found in a freezer unit of the container between the hours of 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm.”

My eternal challenge is that the police seldom arrest kingpins who are masterminding and funding these deadly imports.

Congrats to Minister Audley Shaw

Contrary to the ‘bad mind’ which is spewing from some quarters, our finance minister is well deserving of his most recent recognition. I believe these excerpts from a Jamaica Observer editorial, last Tuesday, was a fitting tribute:

“Mr Shaw took home the Finance Minister of the Year for the Caribbean 2016 Award from GlobalMarkets newspaper at its prestigious GlobalMarkets annual awards reception at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday, October 14, 2017.

“ GlobalMarkets, formerly Emerging Markets, is the newspaper of record at the annual meetings of the major multilateral institutions.

“The only surprise to us is that Mr Shaw had not received such an award before, given his phenomenal performance in his first term — 2007 – 2012 — when he kept the Jamaican economy afloat during the most turbulent period of the global economic crisis.

“He will forever be remembered for breaking the self-perpetuating cycle of exorbitant interest rates on domestic national debt, ignoring pessimistic claims that it was not possible to access lower interest rates by moving away from the 10 and 11 per cent money being previously borrowed on the international markets.

“Under his stewardship also, the Bank of Jamaica’s benchmark interest rate moved from 12 per cent to a 25-year low of 6.25 per cent. His strident advocacy and stellar campaign for lower interest rates removed the obstacles that had stifled investments, consumption and business activity generally in the country for over 15 years before that.

“The exchange rate remained stable at J$86 to US$1 for over two years during the global economic recession; the inflation rate dropped to six per cent; over US$2.8 billion in gross reserves was left at the central bank; and the economy grew 1.7 per cent for calendar year 2011.

“The award is Mr Shaw’s pride as much as it is Jamaica’s.” ( Jamaica Observer, October 17, 2017)

Jamaica’s best days are ahead of us, and those who perpetually ‘bun bad lamp’ for Jamaica cannot stop it.

The truth may be denied, but it will never be defeated. — Will Spencer

Garfield Higgins is an educator; journalist; and advisor to the minister of education, youth and information. Send comments to the Observer or higgins160@yahoo.com.