This is one of the seven kisses planted on the face of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) deputy leader Derrick Smith by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, at the signing of the Political Code of Conduct for constituencies in the South St. Andrew Police Division at the Hunts Bay Police Station, St. Andrew, yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Derrick Smith opened his mouth and got the rewards - seven kisses from Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday.

Mr. Smith, the Member of Parliament for North West St. Andrew and Jamaica Labour Party deputy leader, said at the symbolic signing of the Political Code of Conduct for the five constituencies in the South St. Andrew Police Division that yesterday's date of the signing may have been done to facilitate Mrs. Simpson Miller's seeming fascination with the number seven.

"Mr. Knight, when I reflected on the date, the 17 of the 7th, 07, [July 17, 2007] I recognise that you did not set the date, you facilitated the date," Mr. Smith quipped, keeping one eye on Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight and the other on the Prime Minister.

Code of Conduct signing

Superintendent Knight, head of the St. Andrew South Police Division, was responsible for organising the signing of the Code of Conduct at the Hunts Bay Police Station.

The subject of the number seven has stimulated much debate since July 8, when Mrs. Simpson Miller announced the date of the general election in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew. Nomination Day is August 7 and Election Day August 27.

The Prime Minister also announced a seven-day period of prayer - July 31 to August 6 - leading to the suggestion that she was playing into Pastor Phillip Phinn's Law of the Sevens and her being the country's seventh Prime Minister. Dr. Phinn had said that Mrs. Simpson Miller has been chosen by God to govern over a land, which has 7x2 parishes, the seventh best natural harbour in the world, and has seven national heroes.

Denied playing sevens card

Mrs. Simpson Miller has before denied playing a sevens card with the election date. Yesterday she said she was not aware that the sevens had clashed once more.

It was all in good fun as all 10 Gordon House hopefuls, along with police officers, party supporters, members of the clergy and citizens groups, grinned.

The best part was left for Mr. Smith, though, as after the Prime Minister kissed him on either cheek six times she planted her seventh seal, a super kiss, on his forehead.

- Daraine Luton