Touch base with people before polls

by Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson is a 24-year-old first degree student at the G.C. Foster College for Physical Education and Sport. He grew up in the orange glow of the People's National Party (PNP).

The natural course for him would have been to endorse the PNP as soon as eligibility would allow, but something held him back. Though he said he believed in the PNP, he has never voted. Here's his story.

During my years growing up in Brown's Town, St Ann, the PNP was the party of choice, not only in the community but also in 90 per cent of my family. My family loved the PNP, and they would hear nothing of the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party).

As I grew up, I fell in line, putting my support behind the PNP; after all, it was the Government I had known for most of my life and, therefore, it must have been doing some-thing good. Still, I was not convinced enough to mark my 'X' in support of the PNP, so I have never voted.

I just was not sure which party to vote for, because I was not impressed with any of the party's performances. Not the PNP and not the JLP, and I really did not even consider another party.

Young people wanted change

The JLP turned out victorious in my constituency in the last election. This was because of the fact that the young people in the community felt they needed a change of government, to experience what life would be like under a JLP government. To be honest, I, too, wanted the experience, but could not bring myself to vote for the JLP, so once again I abstained from voting.

If I were to consider voting in the upcoming election, it would most likely be for the PNP, solely because, in my opinion, it has proven that it is much more competent in terms of leadership.

I'm of this view because I have observed how PNP ministers have managed their portfolios. The JLP, before it took office, made a lot of promises that it was not able to fulfil because its members did not have the experience. Now they are realising that they cannot fulfil them. The PNP would not have made those promises.

But before I decide to vote for the PNP, there are certain things the party would have to do.

Chief among these would be moving on the ground in the communities, and not just immediately before the election. Sure, we have seen them going out in their numbers for their bus tour, but this only started when they became convinced that a general election was around the corner.

I need this to be a general thing where they walk around the communities and link up with the people. They need to let us know who they are before the election.