Recently I wrote that Elections to fill the seat made vacant by the passing of Roger Clarke in central Westmoreland would be a litmus test on whether Jamaicans are turning around from entrenched allegiances to the PNP and are finally ready to embrace new ideas even if they are coming from the other party, or even a new party.
Many people disagreed with me arguing that if the JLP loses the seat in the coming by-elections it was not a good indicator of whether the JLP has the winds to it’s back.
The central Westmoreland seat has been under the control of the PNP for almost 55 years . The seat switched hands in 1980 under the tidal-wave which swept the PNP from office.
I understand that irrespective of what the JLP does in the central Westmoreland constituency they may still have an up-hill task because of what could be a measure of sympathy for Roger Clarke who was a well liked Politician.
Notwithstanding we have seen the Jamaican electorate swing massively in one direction or the other when they fully feel their interest are not being met. It may be ill-advised to assume they are beyond moving from tribal politics.
During the election cycle of 1980 hundreds of Jamaicans were killed in what was almost a civil war. Over the last couple of election cycles Jamaicans of both both political parties have adopted an almost carnival like atmosphere to the process, an almost one hundred and eighty degree turn from what obtained before.
Roger Clarke was popular we agree, however mister Clarke is no longer with us, voters in Central Westmoreland must decide whether they allow nostalgia and sympathy of the past, to negatively impact how they prepare for the future.
I believe how they respond will tell the Labor Party whether voters , at least these voters, are feeling enough of a pinch , or whether they are prepared to continue in their misery and with the evil they know.
That is the test,only time will tell.