Comeback in Jamaica

Veteran politicians who have staged comebacks after losing elections usually say that they were chastened and matured by defeat. The latest to make that claim is Jamaica’s Prime Minister Michael Manley, returned to office last week after an eight-year hiatus.

When his socialist People’s National Party ruled Jamaica from 1972 to 1980, Manley strained his relations with the United States by establishing close ties with the Cuban regime of Fidel Castro. Washington became so annoyed at Manley’s pro-Cuba stance that when he was defeated by a conservative opponent, Edward Seaga, former President Ronald Reagan made a point of inviting Seaga to be the first head of state to visit him in the White House in 1981. Seaga, for his part, tried for eight years to bring fiscal conservatism to his small island nation. He had some success in bringing capitalism to the Jamaican economy, but Jamaican voters apparently wearied of his austerity and aloof personal style. Manley won in a landslide last week, with 57% of the popular vote. His party took 46 seats in a 60-member Parliament.

During his campaign, and following his victory, Manley played down his past criticism of the United States. He conceded that mistakes were made during his earlier terms in office, and even promised to keep some of Seaga’s more successful programs going. Manley also said he wants to be on good terms with the new Bush Administration in Washington, and offered to help the U.S. government fight drug traffickers who use Jamaica as a transit point for drugs bound for the U.S. mainland.

One indication that Manley has indeed matured is the fact that he went out of his way during the campaign to help restrain the partisan violence that has marred past Jamaican elections. When he ran against Seaga in 1980, hundreds died. This time around, Manley repeatedly urged his supporters to remain peaceful. The result was a relatively calm campaign in which only a dozen people died. That seems reason enough for the U.S. government to give Manley the benefit of the doubt, at least for the time being.