NID: BRIEFS AND COMMENTS: JAMAICA: MOVING TOWARD THE ELECTION

Created: 8/5/1980

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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BRIEFS AND COMMENTS

JAMAICAi Moving Toward the Election

Primeanley hue toldleaders of

hi* PeopU'e national Party ha wilt noTa^norEHcnal election by early October. IB inonthe before the end of hie constitutional irymdate.

Leaders of the moderate opposition Jamaican Labor Party, which Is favored to defeat Manley, reportedlythat the election will proceed on schedule. They contendelay is unlikely because the Primehas been unable to raise enough foreign credits to keep his government afloat after October.

a consortium of Middle Eastern

Alwait, Iraq, and the United ArabManley that0 million loan would not be disbursed until after the election. Since heoan agreement with the International Monetary Fund laat March because of its stiff conditions, Manley has replaced loat IMF credits onlyasty patchwork of loans mainly from OPEC countries.

Election preparations are now so far advanced that Manley would have great difficulty turning back. of theotera is virtually complete, both parties have nominated all theirandidates, and vigorous campaigning is under way. The Labor Party and the moderate-controlled electoral commission, which Man-ley helped form, apparently believe that the groundworkair election is being established. mmm-j

Nevertheless, the attempt by aome Cuban-assisted radicals injManley's entourage to increase violence will continue toair election.

0

Opposition leaders reportedly believe Manley's recent effort to expand tha security forces and toruling-party gunmen are sincere. Most local observers seem convinced, however, that the unprecedented level of political violence in this campaign will continue through election day. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm|

Original document.

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