January 2012 – Yvette J Rowe

Jamaica starts the year off with a new government and a new Prime Minister and it all becomes official on Thursday January 5.

Portia Simpson Miller leader of the Peoples National party will be sworn in by the Governor General at a ceremony at Kings House, Kingston.

There is no definitive word on the new cabinet for except for the suggestion from the party that some key ministers will likley be sworn in on January 6^th.

The PNP won the December 29 2011 General Election with 42 seats to the JLP’s 21 this tally is one up from election night as after the final count the JLP lost a seat. Turnout for the election was reportedly low on this island nation of over 2.7 million people.

The ceremony will be attended by, the diplomats, members of the ruling party and opposition, academics, business persons and other invited guests.

One thing that won’t be welcome is the vuvuzela, the noise maker that became a feature of the campaign trail and political meetings among the party faithful on both sides. Word from the organisers of the event is that this South African horn that resembles an overgrown party favour will be plastic non grata at the event on the lawns of the Governor General’s residence

The vuvuzela came to notice during the World Cup Football competition in South Africa and the sound maker made its presence heard late last year, when the new leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, Andrew Holness was sworn in as Prime Minister after JLP leader and Prime Minister Bruce Golding stepped down.

The ban is probably based on the experience of the pomp punctuating chorus of the vuvuzelas at that event. According to press reports it’s a matter of discipline and not just decibels and the order comes from Prime Minister elect Portia Simpson Miller herself.

So vuvuzela joyful sound maker or irritating noise maker whatever the verdict, not for the swearing in, out of sight and out of earshot.

Perhaps the determined owners of an iphone can download a vuvuzela app instead.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vuvuzela-2010/id326630627?mt=8

Month: January 2012

Jamaica, New Year, New Prime Minister, Swearing In