Political heat hits Corporate Area this Sunday

This weekend is set to deliver one of the most electrifying political showdowns Jamaica has witnessed in years, as the island's two main political parties prepare to stage duelling mass rallies in the Corporate Area.

Several roads will be shut down and traffic rerouted as police implement control measures to manage the thousands expected to attend both events. Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is widely expected to make the long-awaited announcement of the date for the next general election at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) rally in Half-Way Tree on Sunday evening. But just a few kilometres away, the People's National Party (PNP) will be igniting its own political flame with a rally aimed at flexing its muscle in Kingston and St Andrew.

As the political parties gear up for campaign theatrics, some street vendors in the Corporate Area are gearing up in anticipation of increased sales. Clive, a longtime jerk chicken vendor and loyal PNP supporter, says he will show up to the PNP rally in Cross Roads, but out of obligation rather than hope.

"Mi come fi di vibes, mi cya lie. But mi nah fool miself, rally crowd nuh mean profit. A di same ting every election," he said.

"Mi vote red, but red nah pay mi back. All now mi sidewalk full a pothole, same one dem did promise fi fix two election ago."

Meanwhile, over in Half-Way Tree, Tony's cart was stocked with horns, flags, and rags as he was already setting up early and preparing for chaos.

"Mi nuh vote, mi nuh register. But mi deh deh same way wid mi horn dem. Politics sell, just nuh sell mi no future."

Tony considers himself more of a survivalist than supporter.

"Mi sell green and mi sell orange. Whichever side louder, a dem mi go near. Mi cya be loyal when mi hungry."

For Tony, however, the size of the crowd does not guarantee sales.

"Some a dem just waan free shirt and vibes. Dem nuh waan buy nutten. Mi haffi bawl fi mi money half a di time," he said. "Mi nah tell nobody how fi vote. Mi just seh, if yuh a gwaan like yuh love politics, support di hustle too."

The JLP, which has been in power since 2016, is seeking a third term in office. The last time an election was announced in Half-Way Tree, the governing party lost. Then, on Sunday, January 31, 2016, the PNP's Portia Simpson Miller announced the general election for February 25. Her party went into the election with 42 seats to the JLP 21, and came out losing, as Holness led his team to a famous one-seat win.

Prior to 2016, Simpson Miller announced the 2011 elections in Half-Way Tree and lost to the JLP, which at the time was led by Bruce Golding. The last time an election was announced in Half-Way Tree and the governing party retained state power was in 2002, when PJ Patterson led the PNP to a fourth consecutive term in power, having won elections in 1989, 1993 and 1997.