COMBO POLLS

Government Senator Charles Sinclair is batting for the holding of local government and general elections at the same time in order to channel scarce resources to help the country recover from the economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His comments came during a debate on Friday in the Senate on the Representation of the People (Postponement of Elections to Municipal Corporations and City Municipalities) Act.

The Senate passed the bill that extends the postponement of local government elections for up to 12 months.

But Opposition Senator Lambert Brown charged that the Government’s reasons for postponing the polls amounted to a “scam”, noting that the administration’s reality at this time was that it was “batting on a sticky wicket” with the sharp rise in basic food items.

In making his recommendation for a two-in-one election, Sinclair made it clear that he was not a member of the executive and that the suggestion was his “personal opinion”.

“I feel sure that the Jamaican public will support a postponement to facilitate, at the appropriate time, a two-in-one election, whether it is two years down the road or three years down the road, while the resources be spent in overcoming the ravages of the pandemic and providing a better quality of life for the vulnerable,” Sinclair told his colleagues in the Senate.

He argued that holding both elections at the same time could spur greater voter participation and reflect better on the country’s democracy.

Leader of Government Business in the Senate Kamina Johnson Smith asserted that in light of current public health concerns in relation to COVID-19, the Government sought advice from public health professionals, the national election machinery, and other stakeholders on whether it was prudent to hold elections. She said that the decision was “no”.

Johnson Smith also highlighted concerns that elections would disrupt the activities of the current school term.

Declaring that “I don’t buy the argument that COVID is the reason for postponing elections”, Brown chided the Government for departing from its pledge to establish fixed election dates.

“They hang their hat on the cross that they are for fixed election date,” said Brown, adding that after taking the reins of power, the Government’s interest has shifted.

COVID-19-related arguments ‘hypocritical’

Dismissing the COVID-19-related arguments for delaying the polls, Brown contended that the prime minister called a general election in 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic, when Jamaica had not yet even started vaccinating persons against the virus.

“I share the views of those who say it is hypocritical,” he quipped.

Challenging claims made by Brown, Government Senator Matthew Samuda said the public should not be misled to believe that the People’s National Party had objected to the calling of the September 3, 2020 general election.

“They didn’t welcome the results but they welcomed the calling of the general election,” he said.

He also poked fun at Brown over his comments that the Government was batting on a sticky wicket, owing to the sharp rise in the price of chicken, flour, and other baked products.

“Based on the current state of the Opposition, based on the current metrics being used to determine the state of the Government, it is indeed not a sticky wicket that we are batting on. It is indeed sticky seats on that side because there is no chance of getting up from those seats on that side any time soon,” Samuda said.

In November 2020, the House of Representatives approved amendments to the Representation of the People Act to allow for the local government polls to be deferred up to February 27, 2022.

Local elections are to be held every four years.

The last poll was conducted on November 28, 2016.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com