Time for Ja to unite

THE EDITOR, Madam:

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Jamaica Labour Party in the just-concluded general election. They should be mindful that there is no reason to gloat, and it is imperative to unify the country in circumstances where there are blocks of people who either did not vote or could not bring themselves to vote for them.

The opposition party, on the other hand, must, in the days ahead, demonstrate among its supporters graciousness in defeat. A strong parliamentary democracy requires one in which the Opposition plays a mature role where its very fulcrum is reflective of true nation-building.

Now is not the time for wasting time and licking their wounds, but a time for serious reflection and shrugging off the loss and galvanising with the governing party in putting the interest of the Jamaican people foremost. If not before, it should now become clearer to them that pushing radical constitutional reform is much more directly linked to their own chances of winning in the future. I make reference here to term limits, fixed election dates, and the like, to name a few.

The problem with such a brand of constitutional reform in this context is that it will always be seen as necessary while in opposition but extremely inconvenient if and when you are landed in power.

I have always held that opposition parties in Jamaica must be the architects of their own fundraising projects and events in order that they may be enabled, as far as possible, to go toe to toe with the government of the day in the delivery of the needs of the population.

DERRICK D. SIMON