The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Takes their re-election campaign…MOBILE with an App.

JLP Campaign on the Go

Jamaica has a 100% penetration of mobile phones. Jamaicans love to talk, share what they know or hear about via text messages, voice calls and if they have Blackberries, then by messenger. It’s 2011 and finally a political party decides to engage with Jamaicans on that highly influential platform.  The Andrew Holness-led Jamaica Labour Party will launch in another couple of days a mobile app on Android, with iPhone and Blackberry thereafter…for their faithful labourites and potential new converts at home and abroad to follow their messages on the go. The app aggregates all of their online touch points on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, contact information and useful links.

We have made it no secret that both Jamaican political parties – Jamaica Labour Party and the People’s National Party have never really made FULL use on mobile and internet technologies to market their messages and programmes, to listen and gain valuable feedback, to even respond and even raise funds.

Both parties like a number of traditional minded businesses didn’t think platforms such as Facebook and Twitter had enough Jamaicans to be considered important in its potential to influence public opinion. Both parties must by how have realised that in this era of Wikileaks, voters now have unprecedented access to information via blogs, tweets, online magazines and even just via plain old email and text messages. So it’s now a case of jumping in and being where people are talking about you anyway, listen in and use it as a platform for two way communication.

My only hope is that mobile apps, facebook pages and profiles we’re seeing popping up are not just right now funded pre -election fever strategy, to be abandoned once the results are in. I hope the bloggers, tweeters, votes hold both government and opposition to task…and have them realise that as many businesses in Jamaica and worldwide have come to accept…it’s not and never will be politics as usual, business as usual.

Now since the “truemours” abound on patios and in cafes that Jamaica’s next general election will be held about a week before Christmas, let’s see how this JLP Mobile App, the one the PNP may answer with, in addition them both campaigning online and using social media will impact the pre election polls and the final standings at the end of general election day.

Interesting times ahead indeed.

NB: The views expressed here are super neutral, focused on the potential impact of technology on Jamaican politics and is not in alignment with any of the political parties.