Vote peacefully
Published:Thursday | December 29, 2011 | 12:00 AM
We had hoped that this election campaign would have finally marked the end of the use of violence as a tool of persuasion in Jamaican politics. And despite the odd skirmish, that appears largely to have been the case.
Tuesday night's shooting in the Westmoreland Central constituency, at the rally of the Jamaica Labour Party's candidate, Marlene Malahoo-Forte, seems to have undermined our optimism. But the police have said that although the incident occurred at a political meeting, the shooting was gang-related rather than politically motivated.
There, of course, is little comfort in that fact, for the loss of a life in any circumstance is to be regretted. That it happened at a party rally will raise fears of participation in such events, which is an important element in Jamaica's democracy.
Hopefully, no similar incident, or any other act of violence, will occur today as Jamaicans vote for the government of their choice. We, therefore, welcome the condemnation of the Westmoreland incident by the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) and the broader repudiation by both political parties of violence generally.
Indeed, the Westmoreland incident highlights the need for the constabulary to be particularly vigilant in known political hot spots and for the parties to actively dissuade supporters from provocative behaviour.
The larger point is that political violence is unworthy of our maturing democracy which, despite the stresses it has borne, has never collapsed. For nearly seven decades, Jamaicans have periodically, and in relative order, changed their governments via the ballot box. We are justifiably proud of our democracy and the improvements it has made in recent decades.
work in progress
But, as too many countries bear witness, the continued existence of this, our democracy, is not inevitable. It is a work that is continuously in progress.
Every action that enhances the right of citizens and every vote that delivers a government that represents the will of the people, strengthens the foundation upon which it is constructed.
It is against this backdrop that we urge registered voters to peacefully and calmly cast their ballots for the candidates of their choice. By this act, we affirm our democracy.
Casting a ballot is important, too, in determining which party more Jamaicans, if not the majority, believe has the best policies and the will to tackle the country's intractable problems of debt, lack of economic growth, joblessness and poverty. Voters should be aware that there are no easy answers and should weigh their decisions carefully.
Which skin for Bishop Blair?
As the political ombudsman, Herro Blair is supposed to be the impartial arbiter of disputes over the conduct and behaviour of Jamaica's political parties and their supporters. We, therefore, view the post with utmost seriousness.
Herro Blair, though, is not only the political ombudsman. He is a fundamentalist Christian and a bishop of his own church.
He, it also appears, is aggressively anti-homosexual and any move to advance the rights of gays - judging by the venom he spewed from his pulpit on Christmas Day against PNP President Portia Simpson Miller 's suggestion that she would allow a review of, and a conscience vote on, the buggery law if her party wins the election.
In our homophobic society, the Jamaica Labour Party has sought to take advantage of the declaration and Mrs Simpson Miller's assertion that sexual orientation would not be a determinant for membership in her Cabinet.
We have been concerned that some of the language from the JLP's platforms could incite misguided elements to act against gays. This would, therefore, be within the remit for investigation and arbitration by Herro Blair, the political ombudsman. That is, if he can shed his skin as a fundamentalist Christian.
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