TODAY'S BY-ELECTION in North East St. Ann has taken on national proportions as a mini-referendum on the performance of the PNP administration. So much so that the two major political parties have pulled out all stops in an intensive campaign.
As we reported earlier this week, the preoccupation with the campaign impacted on the activities of Parliament itself. Both House and Senate curtailed some sittings. Even the historic first open sitting of the Standing Finance Committee, comprising the full membership of the House, was delayed by lack of a quorum.
This is understandable, of course, as Parliamentarians are also politicians who, for the most part, have their roots in the hustings.
The latest poll commissioned by this newspaper indicated that about a week before the elections there was a virtual dead heat between the PNP as ruling party and the opposition JLP. Since the by-election is to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of PNP MP Danny Melville, expressing disaffection with politics in general, the contest is that much keener.
On the one hand the PNP will want to retain a seat it had won by over 2000 votes; and the JLP will want to make inroads to show that it has mended the fissures which have called into question its viability as an alternative government.
For its part the fledgling NDM needs to win its spurs as a feasible third party, which has pledged to change the face of traditional politics in this country.
Except for one reported incident of gunfire at a PNP meeting the campaign has been relatively incident-free. The management of the polling by the Electoral Office will be keenly watched for any sign of malpractice.
Political observers will watch with special interest this first by-election in the first third-term administration.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
