With fresh elections behind us Jamaicans once again largely stayed home . The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) reported that even less voters turned up to vote on February 25th than the last time around .
The question we must ask is this, “why have Jamaicans given up on the process”?
There is no simple answer to this complex question. Surely there are many far more sophisticated than I ever could hope to be who will be able to answer that question with far greater depth and clarity than I ever could.
However from a lay perspective it seem to me that people are tired and fed up , they believe their votes do not count and maybe more significantly they fundamentally believe the two major political parties are one and the same.
As a bystander I see how people could despair in light of what has transpired in our country since the British ditched us in 1962.
Take the most recent elections for example, even as Laborites and kumreds danced in carnival-like atmosphere decked out in green and orange regalia the leadership of the PNP seem unable to accept the voice of the Jamaican people.
Former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and her party seriously takes the line that Jumeka a PNP kuntry to heart.
Since 2007 the grizzled street warrior Portia Simpson Miller has won one election but she also lost two as well , that has to sting.
Holding political office is not a right, it’s a privilege and an honor.
So those who offer themselves as servants of the people must divest themselves of the notion that the power is theirs to keep .
Alas , we do not live in a monarchy where we are ruled by decree anymore.
Our leaders are not our masters they are our servants and they lead with our consent.
This is why it’s important that we have term limits , not just by way of the power of the ballot box, but term limits enshrined in law which prevents politicians from getting too enamored with power.
It’s important that we elect young innovative leaders like Canada’s Justin Trudeau, who are in office to serve and not to lord over the people who place them in office while living like royalty off their sweat and blood.
What is it about political power in our country that makes it so difficult to walk away with class after the voters refuse to buy what individual parties are selling?
On September 3rd 2007 the Jamaica Labor Party defeated the Simpson Miller led PNP in a close election. Miller initially refused to concede defeat claiming voting irregularities.
Notwithstanding the Organization of American States issued a statement declaring the election free and fair. “I believe this election can stand international scrutiny,” said OAS assistant secretary-general Albert Ramdin, who led a team of international observers who monitored the election. wikipedia
Instead she promised to be “Golding’s worst nightmare” , In our Parliamentary system of Government the opposition party can be vigilant in watching and reporting to the people what the Governing party is doing , but there is precious little else the opposition party can do.
She conceded defeat on the 5th of September.
On Thursday 25th of February Portia Simpson Miller and her party again went down in defeat albeit in another close loss.
It does not matter how close the loss is or how wide it is the party with most seats in the 63 seat legislature forms the government that’s it.
Again Portia Simpson Miller gave a half-hearted concession of sorts while vigorously promising strong PNP functionaries to oversee recounts.
Additionally she went on to say she and her party would not stand by and allow the party just elected to destroy the economy.
Excuse me ?
Jamaica’s economy does not belong to the PNP , how dare you? Who do you think you are?
That sense of entitlement caused her to spend her term in office being blatantly disrespectful to the people who elected her. To her supporters it does not matter , but to the people who did not vote to put her in office this is an affront to their right to chose whom they want to govern the Island for the next five years .
It is certainly withing the rights of the PNP and the JLP to have recounts in constituencies where the margins have been close .
That’s democracy at work and in all fairness to KD Knight and Tom Tavares Finson they merely want to ensure that the election results are fair.
I applaud both attorneys representing the two political parties.
However there is much more going on behind the scenes. Over the long period of time that the PNP has been in office literally every sector of national life has been politicized , much to the detriment of our country.
That includes those with a megaphone in the media who have the gall to talk about the likelihood that the new Administration will not be able to govern with a slim majority.
Here’s my advice for these bottom feeders , “shut the f**k up and allow the will of the people to be realized”.
If and when the people decide they want another change they have the right at the end of the new administration’s term to send them packing.
That is the way our system work.
Politics should not be a career, when it becomes a career it breeds contempt and arrogance. This is not only about Miller , it runs the gamut on both sides of the divide. While we are at it I hope Holness will marshal legislation pushing for term limits as he promised.
On that note I segue into answering the question I raised “why have Jamaicans given up on the process”?
GARRISONS.….
The Jamaican people in the middle who are not died-in-the-wool Labourites or Kumreds are the ones who decide elections. Many are frustrated and angry that there are constituencies which are stacked with voters of one party or the other who vote monolithic nullifying their ability to chose the representatives of their choice.
If Jamaica is to emerge from the shackles of Political colonization these zones of exclusions must be dismantled forthwith.
People’s votes must count .
We simply cannot have a country where the masses of the least informed make decisions for everyone else to the benefit of a few.