Friday, September 22, 2006
Political Conditions
The economic problems Jamaica faces combined with the levels of poverty only give rise to extreme social issues. The country has a whole is plagued with high unemployment rates, vast underemployment, high interest rates, growing international debt along with illegal but substancial trafficking of narcotics, namely cocaine and marijuana.
There are two significant political parties in Jamaica, The Jamaica Labour Party(JLP) and The Peoples National Party(PNP). A third party was created in 1995, The National Democratic Movement (NDM) but it has had little to no sucess. The two significant parties have strong ties to two of Jamaica's trade unions; the JLP with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the PNP with the National Workers Union (NWU). The party most popular and in power for the last several years is the PNP which is now headed by the Honorable Portia Simpson-Miller, the first woman Prime Minister.
It is widely understood but never spoken about that both political parties have close ties with the "dons" who control the turbulent ghetto rural areas of downtown Kingstown. These relationships appear to be mutually beneficial with the "dons" receiving protection from both state and international authorities and the political parties gaining political support from the rural areas along with guranteed voter turnout.
These relationships are significant as key underlying factors contributing to the segregation, violence, poverty and unrest in the city.
There are two significant political parties in Jamaica, The Jamaica Labour Party(JLP) and The Peoples National Party(PNP). A third party was created in 1995, The National Democratic Movement (NDM) but it has had little to no sucess. The two significant parties have strong ties to two of Jamaica's trade unions; the JLP with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the PNP with the National Workers Union (NWU). The party most popular and in power for the last several years is the PNP which is now headed by the Honorable Portia Simpson-Miller, the first woman Prime Minister.
It is widely understood but never spoken about that both political parties have close ties with the "dons" who control the turbulent ghetto rural areas of downtown Kingstown. These relationships appear to be mutually beneficial with the "dons" receiving protection from both state and international authorities and the political parties gaining political support from the rural areas along with guranteed voter turnout.
These relationships are significant as key underlying factors contributing to the segregation, violence, poverty and unrest in the city.
# posted by Craig Young @ 8:29 AM 
