Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Kelly

Well after much huffing and puffing, and amid all the wranglings about who swears allegiance to how many countries, who can't deliver, and who can't be trusted, we have finally arrived at election day.

I, for one, am thrilled to bits that it's almost over and done with. As comedic as some of the ads were, this whole thing went on way to flippin' long. Rumours were spreading like bamboo wildfire that there were plans to extend the date even further because of the effects of Hurricane Dean. But if the date hadn't been so bloomin' far down in the first place, the election would have been contested, and the winners would have had time to bus' a little champagne and kick up dem foot before Dean ever showed his face coming out of the Atlantic.

But all that's water under the bridge, no pun intended. It's the day for the real deal, the big ting, where we separate the electorally savvy from the 'also-rans'. All who knew they were never going to win cannot possibly cry, and those who knew their seat was a battleground, get your alka seltzer ready because it's going to be a hectic day.

Won't miss a thing!

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and JLP leader Bruce Golding. Who will it be? Whatever the outcome, can't we all just get along? - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The only thing I'm going to miss about this whole thing is, actually, now that I think about it, nothing! Sure all the media houses made a bundle from the advertisements, but that's about it. The longer this thing went on the worse it got, especially the bickering between candidates. After a while, not even the snide comments about the dress, weight and looks of the candidates being fired from both sides were funny. I think Dean realised that if he mashed us up too bad, we would have to deal with weeks or even months of extra wait so he pointed his 'eye' off the coast. Thanks, old boy!

I wish I could just sit and watch this whole day develop where it's safest, at home in front of my television, butt firmly entrenched in the settee. But because I chose the field of journalism, it means that it's days like these that I have to be out and about; potentially dodging bullets or sitting outside the polling station bored half to death. Oh well!

So regardless of the outcome, let's all remember one thing: we're all Jamaicans. Yes, even the dirty scoundrels who were fleecing people in Portland Cottage. So let's just accept the results for what they are and move on. If it's a fifth term then may it truly be the people's term. And if the people do indeed decide they need a change now, let the change be for the better.

Whoever wins, do the right thing!