Commentary

The peaceful way in which the election of 2011 was conducted reflects that we are growing in maturity in our political process. The images of PNP and JLP supporters together cheering, giving their parties' salutes without animosity, seeing the green and orange riding together on a motorbike, need to be broadcast across the world.

Professor Errol Miller, chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), made an alarming statement in his broadcast to the nation last Wednesday. Speaking to election-day workers, the goodly professor issued guidelines that included the following: "Use Standard English in addressing each elector. English is the official language of the country and election day is an official event and occasion."

This newspaper was heartened by the tone of Prime Minister-elect Portia Simpson Miller's victory speech last Thursday night after her party's election blowout. She was understandably, and appropriately, celebratory without being triumphant. But more particularly, we appreciated Mrs Simpson Miller's pledge to lead an administration that is consultative and inclusive.

I wish to congratulate Prime Minister-designate Portia Simpson Miller upon winning a landslide victory in the recently concluded general election. The people have given you and the People's National Party (PNP) the mandate to govern the people of Jamaica for the next five years.

The happy, gentle and conciliatory Sista P who is now our leader is so different from the Sista P on the hustings. Would that it were Andrew Holness - the first seemingly decent, intelligent, broad-minded and well-intentioned politician to emerge in a long time

I first heard the expression 'Water more than flour' when I was a teenager and my cricket captain, Ivan (known as 'Rabby'), faced a difficult choice and we had to abandon a match we had virtually won.

I wish to take issue with the approach taken by your letter writer Alex M. Lodge. He builds his case upon half-truths. For example, he says that people have preconceived notions about how homosexuals behave.

With a decisive margin of victory for the People's National Party (PNP) from yesterday's general election, the outcome illustrates the resilience of that party and the enduring popularity of its leader...

Although the People's National Party (PNP) emerged victorious last night and, barring any unforeseen situations, the prime minister for the next five or so years will be Portia Simpson Miller, I am left to wonder, who really won and who really lost in this election?...

ELECTIONS, the saying goes, are lost, not won.If this is true, the outcome of yesterday's parliamentary election appears to have been a referendum on the four-year administration of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

The new administration should in its first 100 days...