Politicians should be judicious in what they say

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Politicians from both sides of the political divide are notorious for making ill-conceived statements. However, having moved away from the dark days of inter-party violence, the dead voting and the stuffing of ballot boxes, one can be excused for thinking politicians would be extremely careful not to do or say anything to indicate support for that kind of politics.

Well, I was rudely awakened from my political naivety when The Gleaner of July 24, had this quote from the leader of the Opposition: “Everybody, mek up unu mind! Work has to be done. It not going happen so. We have to mek sure seh every Comrade who voted for the People’s National Party in 2011 and delivered the victory, if they’re still alive, dem affi go vote fi Comrade Patrick Peterkin when the election call. And even some who not alive, you know if dem can deal with it, no problem.”

The statement “and even some who not alive, you know if dem can deal with it, no problem” is quite problematic and I may be bold to suggest all patriotic Jamaicans should be uncomfortable with the utterance. The statement may be open to any number of interpretations but one stands out.

I am confident the honourable leader of the Opposition is not suggesting a return to the day’s when dead electors cast ballots but his statement surely suggests he is.

I am sure the People’s National Party’s (PNP) public relations apparatus will in due course issue a statement exonerating their leader from any negative intention, indeed, it may just be dismissed as ‘banter’ between supporters.

Such an explanation would swing if the utterances were from a member of the PNP’s rank and file but surely we should hold the leader of the Opposition to a higher standard and expect greater circumspection in speech.

Crowds are known to have an intoxicating affect on politicians but that being said, aspiring leaders of the nation have to be mindful of the potential effects of their utterances in a country where far too many citizens are ‘comrades’ and ‘labourites’ and too few are just simply Jamaicans

WAYNE PLUMMER

Greater Portmore