The Advocate’s Network (AN) believes the days following the February 26 local government election will go down in history as a political turning point for Jamaica, based on several factors.
The recently concluded election saw the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) winning in seven parishes; Portland, St.Thomas, St. Elizabeth, St. James, Trelawny, St. Ann and Clarendon, while the opposition People’s National Party won in five parishes; St. Mary, Hanover, Westmoreland, Manchester and St. Catherine.
There was a tie in the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, KSAMC, with the PNP and JLP each winning 20 divisions. By virtue of winning the popular vote in the KSAMC, the PNP will choose the next mayor of Kingston. Meanwhile, the PNP won the mayoral race in Portmore. The PNP also won the majority of the 228 electoral divisions islandwide and the popular vote, getting over 312,000 votes.
While the two parties sought to claim victory, most political commentators expressed concern that less that 30 per cent of the voting public took part in the polls. The AN believes this is a win for Jamaica. See their reasons outlined in their press release below.
1. By not voting, most Jamaicans (over 70% 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% of voters will vote on “the issues” and not for “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 up 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 NGO’s, CBOs, private sector organizations, 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, that 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. If the latter, Jamaicans should become active citizens before the next general election, by doing the following, among other things:
- 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.
- Join the call to remove MP Warmington from membership of the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee (ICOC) 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.
- Actively engage your candidates seeking to become MP’s 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-centered approach to governance as the basis for a new Jamaican Republic that can deliver sustainable development and growth of our country.
