Jamaica is at a turning point

THE EDITOR, Madam:

THE WEEK ending March 2, 2024 will go down in history as a political turning point that can deliver a win for Jamaica in terms of our fledgling democracy. This conclusion is based on:

1. By not voting, the majority of the Jamaican people (over 70 per cent of eligible voters) have again indicated that they are tired of the poor governance offered by the JLP and the PNP and see no significant difference between them.

2. Don Anderson polls have indicated that 51 per cent of voters will vote on “the issues” and NOT for a “the party”, “the party leader”, “the MP or candidate”, or “how I will benefit”. Clearly, “the issues” of concern to them were absent from the political campaign.

3. Although both political parties have claimed victory, the close election outcome should be seen as a wake-up call. The people of Jamaica are fed of their leadership and tired of unfulfilled promises in the management of our country’s affairs.

4. The advocacy and outcry of the Jamaican people, including vocal members of NGOs, CBOs, private sector organisations, churches, and social influencers, led to the dismissal of a PNP caretaker candidate and a JLP Cabinet minister due to their intolerable utterances and unacceptable political leadership.

5. Finally, the history of tone-deaf governance offered by the JLP and the PNP, which persistently ignores the cries of our people for better governance, integrity, justice and human rights, must come to an end.

Jamaica is now at a political turning point. The Jamaican people must now decide whether they want to continue with top-down, tone-deaf governance or move to a bottom-up, people-centred approach to governance.

BECOME ACTIVE CITIZENS

If it is the latter, Jamaicans should become ACTIVE citizens, BEFORE the next general election, by doing the following, among other things:

I. Advocate for and actively engage in widespread public education on creating a new Constitution that will provide the legal foundations for a people-centred approach to governance and bottom-up decision-making that will improve the standard of living for the Jamaican people.

II. Join the call to remove MP Everald Warmington from membership of the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee (I CO C) and the Joint Select Committee reviewing the Integrity Commission law. Anyone who breaches the 2002 Code of Conduct for Ministers, violates the Constitution and abuses ministerial authority, should NOT be involved in parliamentary oversight of integrity.

III. Actively engage your candidates seeking to become MPs in the next general election and demand better representation and leadership where appropriate. Encourage them to sign the Integrity Commission’s Code of Conduct as a signal of their commitment to act with integrity.

Our democracy is being threatened by poor governance! We, the people, especially young people, must now get far more engaged in public affairs and the governance of our country.

At this political turning point, Jamaica needs all hands on board in creating a vibrant people-centred approach to governance as the basis for a new Jamaican Republic that can deliver sustainable development and growth of our country.

ADVOCATES NETWORK

advocatesnet@gmail.com