Whether the final count is 33 – 30 or 32 – 31 in favor of the Jamaica Labor Party when the final count becomes official Jamaica must still be governed. Of course if you listen to the prognosticators and bottom feeding political hacks who control the megaphone in Jamaica one would think this not doable.
These are they whom have grown fat at the trough of PNP largess. Many would not know how to earn a honest living other than the slop they devour as a result of that party’s entrenched system of corruption.
One of the issues to be considered going forward is how to get the over 50% of qualified electors back to believing in the process.
Much of this will not be realized overnight, but arguably will rest on the ability of the newly elected Administration to get it’s agenda enacted.
WHY HAVE JAMAICANS GIVEN UP ON THE PROCESS?
In the Interest of clarity it’s important to recognize that despite low voter turnout those who voted spoke eloquently about who they want to govern the country for the next five years.
As the seat count presently stand the JLP has a 32 – 31 lead over the PNP with one previously declared going to a Magesterial recount. . On that alone the JLP would have picked up a whopping 11 seats, moving its total from 21 to a tentative 32.
That 11 seat swing was no easy task in light of the PNP’s roughly 20 seat garrison advantage.
Not only has the JLP won the seat count the party also won the popular vote albeit less than a percentage point.
Now there are many who will say “wow Mike why do you need to point this out , you are gloating” ?
I want to address that whole notion right away. I never liked PNP policies that is no secret.
A cursory look at our country is more than evidence to support my revulsion for the PNP’s ideology. I believe the poverty and decay which has characterized their reign is reason enough to eschew what they are selling.
The idea of ideological Socialism taking a country into the first world is an oxymoron and a massive con game.
I much rather a market driven economy, a philosophy which tackles crime and corruption , lower taxes, encourage foreign investments, and adherence to the rule of law.
Those who say they don’t care about either party are angry PNP supporters who are crying in their orange-aid our country will be fine while they moan and complain.
I simply love Jamaica too much not to speak out about the decay and decadence which the PNP has represented for decades.
There are no successful Nations on this planet which has adopted ideological socialism as a political model. I asked many of my friends who support the People’s National Party to name me a single ideological socialist country which is a success I’m still awaiting their response.
Conversely, much of the poverty and social upheaval which plague parts of Africa, Southern and Latin American may be laid at the feet of Socialist ideology.
I am not opposed to the brand of socialism which is practiced by the Liberal Party in Canada, or that which is practiced in parts of Scandinavia. Simply put, the People’s National Party’s philosophy is nothing close to that which is practiced in these countries.
Eivind Kjørstad, of the website Quora.com in an Article asks How socialist are Scandinavian countries? : ” All countries are a mix of socialist and capitalist ideas. In fact I personally think that adherence to a single “pure” ideology is a pretty good indicator of evil. No good ever comes from believing that a single tool is the correct one to solve all problems. The real world is diverse, and it’s wise to use a diverse set of tools to solve society’s problems”.
The PNP would be well advised to consider this as it licks it’s wounds and ponder the arrogance which landed it into the role of Opposition.
Jamaicans spoke this election that they are tired of the old style politics of anger , division and clenched fists. They opted out of abrasive Garrison style politics which have kept them chained ideologically and economically to promises of prosperity just around the corner which have time and again turned out to be only a mirage.
They opted out of the sell-off of our national treasures and turned their backs on second-class citizenship in their own country.
And yes they responded to the promise of prosperity , even though not totally convinced they chose to believe because it came from a different source.
They grew tired of the same old song and dance. They were tired of being sick and tired and hungry most of all.
The elections are over, as Jamaicans we must all roll up our sleeves and begin the task of building our nation. Whether we live on the Island or elsewhere our contribution is critical.
The Jamaican diaspora sent back 16 Billion dollars over the last decade alone. It is fair to say that with the mismanagement of the economy over the last three decades the Jamaican economy would have collapsed without that injection of un-earned capital.
Many Jamaicans in the diaspora are now watching to see whether the new Administration has the balls to tackle crime at it’s core by giving the police the latitude and support they need while ensuring the appropriate level of oversight are in place.
The key to the Nations immediate economic problems is private sector employment. In order to encourage private investors to come in crime must be under control and public sector corruption and bureaucratic incompetence must be a thing of the past.
More importantly is the multitude of retirees who are dying to return home with their savings, social security and pension checks.
But their return is predicated on crime being under control.
let’s see if the new JLP Administration understand how this recovery must be tackled.
JAMAICANS IN DIASPORA IN NO HURRY TO RETURN HOME