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The voice of the people
published: Sunday | September 9, 2007
Lambert Brown
The people of Jamaica have spoken; democracy is alive and well in this blessed land of ours. Congratulations to all the winning candidates.
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has won a very narrow victory and to them goes the job of governing this land. It will not be an easy task. Judging by the response of the people on talk shpws and in the streets, even before the new Prime Minister is sworn in, in they are seeking to hold the new Government to deliver on its promises made during the long and gruelling campaign.
This appears to be a new feature in our politics, where politicians are being held accountable for promises and commitments made to the people. People are keeping manifestos of the parties and are prepared to demand that they not be treated as fools to whom promises are gifts of comfort.
By designing the narrowest of majorities in Parliament and the national vote, the people of Jamaica hold the 'handle' in the coming weeks and months over the politicians. This is indeed a victory, not for the JLP or PNP, but instead, a victory for the people and Jamaica, as I wished in my last column.
magisterial recounts
Information from the Electoral Commission revealed that 808,240 Jamaicans voted, with less than 3,000 votes separating the parties nationally. The JLP is reported as getting 405,215 votes while the PNP received 402,275 votes. The seat counts of 33 for the JLP and 27 for the PNP could be affected by magisterial recounts and challenges in the courts with respect to people holding dual citizenship.
This is a period of uncertainty in the country and is reflected in the delay of swearing in the new Government. Our politicians have been 'bewitched' by our people; no landside victory, no big mandate for either side. This is our people's response to the campaign of lies, negativity, reckless promises, the dishonest tearing down of each other, and the murder and mayhem carried out in the fight for political power.
The collective voice of our people is saying that it is time to clean up the disunity and vitriolic politics that for too long has characterised the Jamaican political landscape.
In my last column, I spoke of the positive scenes of unity and harmony among supporters of different parties on nomination day. In many polling stations across Jamaica, this unity and harmony was evident, despite the understandable competition for votes.
JLP and PNP, 'election-day' workers shared food and information with each other. They hugged and joked with each other. They demanded that the media take photographs of them so that the country could see the spirit of national unity being openly displayed, despite their individual choices to support different political parties.
This is the Jamaica that our people want to see. This is the necessary condition for eradicating the garrison mentality. Our leaders now need to grab the opportunity that has been provided by the decency of the majority during the election. It is full time now for our leaders to identify and disavow the corrupting elements that continue to blight our democracy and country.
wisdom of the people
What a wonderful acknowledgement of the wisdom of our peoples if the top political leaders of our country would go on a retreat to jointly assess what was negative in the election campaign and resolve to take action to change all of that to a positive way of operating.
I am sure this would bring the majority of voters back to the political process. Jamaica would make unprecedented strides in our development if our politicians would do the right thing and put Jamaica as the primary focus, and their political party secondary. This is what I think the voice of the people is demanding. The coming months will reveal the extent to which our politicians are prepared to listen and order their actions to conform with the dictates of our people.
improved electoral slystem
Our electoral system has improved immensely over the years. Thanks goes to the Electoral Office of Jamaica for clearing up much of the dishonesty in the previous system. We are well on the road to having full confidence in the process. No stealing of ballot boxes, not much bogus voting; no collusion with unprincipled presiding officers, and no stuffing of the boxes.
But some disappointments with the electoral process have been expressed by ordinary Jamaicans in the street. I hope that the Electoral Commission pays serious attention to these rumblings and not allow past successes to lead to arrogance on the part of some of its officials.
Our electoral system needs to retain the confidence of our people, and must always wear the perception of neutrality, humility, fairness and accuracy. There are people who feel that the commission did not always wear the necessary perception at different points in the electoral process. Good, even excellent work can come to nought if the perception battle is lost.
This election was by far the most expensive one ever in our country. Both the State and the political parties had to come up with big bucks to keep our democracy going. Will the politicians lie to us when it comes to making their statutory declaration as to how much they spent on the election? If they don't tell us the truth, then we can be assured that a new day has not arisen in our politics. There can be no new beginning based on lies. Will the new Government keep its word with respect to its numerous promises? Will the people use their political authority to discipline politicians who seek to take them for granted?
Whatever the future presents to us, let us always hold the voice of our people supreme.
Lambert Brown is president of the University and Allied Workers' Union and can be contacted at labpoyh@yahoo.com.
published: Sunday | September 9, 2007
Lambert Brown
The people of Jamaica have spoken; democracy is alive and well in this blessed land of ours. Congratulations to all the winning candidates.
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has won a very narrow victory and to them goes the job of governing this land. It will not be an easy task. Judging by the response of the people on talk shpws and in the streets, even before the new Prime Minister is sworn in, in they are seeking to hold the new Government to deliver on its promises made during the long and gruelling campaign.
This appears to be a new feature in our politics, where politicians are being held accountable for promises and commitments made to the people. People are keeping manifestos of the parties and are prepared to demand that they not be treated as fools to whom promises are gifts of comfort.
By designing the narrowest of majorities in Parliament and the national vote, the people of Jamaica hold the 'handle' in the coming weeks and months over the politicians. This is indeed a victory, not for the JLP or PNP, but instead, a victory for the people and Jamaica, as I wished in my last column.
magisterial recounts
Information from the Electoral Commission revealed that 808,240 Jamaicans voted, with less than 3,000 votes separating the parties nationally. The JLP is reported as getting 405,215 votes while the PNP received 402,275 votes. The seat counts of 33 for the JLP and 27 for the PNP could be affected by magisterial recounts and challenges in the courts with respect to people holding dual citizenship.
This is a period of uncertainty in the country and is reflected in the delay of swearing in the new Government. Our politicians have been 'bewitched' by our people; no landside victory, no big mandate for either side. This is our people's response to the campaign of lies, negativity, reckless promises, the dishonest tearing down of each other, and the murder and mayhem carried out in the fight for political power.
The collective voice of our people is saying that it is time to clean up the disunity and vitriolic politics that for too long has characterised the Jamaican political landscape.
In my last column, I spoke of the positive scenes of unity and harmony among supporters of different parties on nomination day. In many polling stations across Jamaica, this unity and harmony was evident, despite the understandable competition for votes.
JLP and PNP, 'election-day' workers shared food and information with each other. They hugged and joked with each other. They demanded that the media take photographs of them so that the country could see the spirit of national unity being openly displayed, despite their individual choices to support different political parties.
This is the Jamaica that our people want to see. This is the necessary condition for eradicating the garrison mentality. Our leaders now need to grab the opportunity that has been provided by the decency of the majority during the election. It is full time now for our leaders to identify and disavow the corrupting elements that continue to blight our democracy and country.
wisdom of the people
What a wonderful acknowledgement of the wisdom of our peoples if the top political leaders of our country would go on a retreat to jointly assess what was negative in the election campaign and resolve to take action to change all of that to a positive way of operating.
I am sure this would bring the majority of voters back to the political process. Jamaica would make unprecedented strides in our development if our politicians would do the right thing and put Jamaica as the primary focus, and their political party secondary. This is what I think the voice of the people is demanding. The coming months will reveal the extent to which our politicians are prepared to listen and order their actions to conform with the dictates of our people.
improved electoral slystem
Our electoral system has improved immensely over the years. Thanks goes to the Electoral Office of Jamaica for clearing up much of the dishonesty in the previous system. We are well on the road to having full confidence in the process. No stealing of ballot boxes, not much bogus voting; no collusion with unprincipled presiding officers, and no stuffing of the boxes.
But some disappointments with the electoral process have been expressed by ordinary Jamaicans in the street. I hope that the Electoral Commission pays serious attention to these rumblings and not allow past successes to lead to arrogance on the part of some of its officials.
Our electoral system needs to retain the confidence of our people, and must always wear the perception of neutrality, humility, fairness and accuracy. There are people who feel that the commission did not always wear the necessary perception at different points in the electoral process. Good, even excellent work can come to nought if the perception battle is lost.
This election was by far the most expensive one ever in our country. Both the State and the political parties had to come up with big bucks to keep our democracy going. Will the politicians lie to us when it comes to making their statutory declaration as to how much they spent on the election? If they don't tell us the truth, then we can be assured that a new day has not arisen in our politics. There can be no new beginning based on lies. Will the new Government keep its word with respect to its numerous promises? Will the people use their political authority to discipline politicians who seek to take them for granted?
Whatever the future presents to us, let us always hold the voice of our people supreme.
Lambert Brown is president of the University and Allied Workers' Union and can be contacted at labpoyh@yahoo.com.
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