Distant election winners
Published:Saturday | December 31, 2011 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
The results of the general election produced two distant winners. First, it is the people who did not vote. They actually said it did not matter who won the election. To them, it did not matter who is elected to govern, to make laws, to make policies that will affect you and me.
They have taken the position in the bleachers as spectators. In doing so, every mistake made by the Government can be passed off as "I had nothing to do with their ascendancy to power". They were sending a message that neither party did anything to cause them to stand in line to vote and preferred to stay home or gather with friends to enjoy an afternoon off.
It is the party base that came out to vote, and as a result only 52 per cent of the 1.6 million voters decided who will form the next Government.
We need as Jamaicans to wake up. Stop allowing others to decide for us. We need to be more responsible and proactive. We need to get out of the seat of complacency and do something rather than depending on others to do and then we criticise.
It is these people who will, over the next five years, have to evaluate whether they did the right thing, and whether they can gloat in their victory.
Couldn't influence them
They also sent a message: That both parties wasted more than $1 billion because it did nothing to influence them to vote. The vote represented the loyal party supporters who enjoyed curried goat and drinks and free rides to different parts of the country.
The second winner is the legislative framework for the elections. This was the most peaceful election I have experienced. Much credit must be given to the Electoral Office of Jamaica and the security forces for providing the necessary framework for a free and peaceful election.
Commendations also for election day workers. The political parties, by and large, adhered to the regulations, and we are better off because of this.
My hope is that we will seek to be active in the way our society is managed and never leave it to someone else to decide. Otherwise, God help us all.
PATRICK M. SMITH