We are deeply saddened by the circumstances under which the life of Mr Sanjay Ebanks, the office manager for South-East St Andrew JLP candidate Mrs Joan Gordon-Webley, was snuffed out last week. Mr Ebanks, we are told in the lead story of yesterday's edition, was shot minutes after he locked up the JLP constituency office and headed for his home, metres away on Anderson Road in Woodford Park on Thursday night.

Understandably, his family, friends and colleagues are heart-broken and angry at this murder in the face of so many attempts on the part of the political leaders of both parties to encourage peace in the run-up to the general elections on August 27.

We submit, however, that no useful purpose can be served by a withdrawal by either party from the bi-partisan talks designed to encourage peace, especially since the police investigation has not unearthed the perpetrators of this ghastly crime, which may or may not have been politically motivated.

Yes, we can understand how frustrating it must be for Mr Bruce Golding, the leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, to have dialogue in the face of what would appear to be blatant breaches of the political code. And how badly he must want - through the action of withdrawing from the talks - to make a statement about the imperfections of the process.

But a withdrawal would only send the wrong signal to that intellectually challenged element of the electorate which still sees violence as the best way of expressing itself.
To withdraw would negate the effectiveness - potential and otherwise - of the verbal peace message that the nation so desperately needs to imbibe.

For how, on the one hand, could we as leaders, expect people to seek to articulate and resolve their differences through discussions, debate and other civilised forms of communication, when we ourselves abandon the process because we are displeased with it?
So maybe Mr Donald Buchanan, general-secretary of the ruling People's National Party, is guilty of indiscriminate remarks. Maybe he does deserve - as Mr Golding thinks - to be reprimanded and cautioned by his superiors.

But in the end, it is the electorate that will discipline and control - through the exercise of their democratic right to vote - those it deems unworthy of leading the nation through dialogue and properly articulated policies to prosperity and peace.
Until that happens, the best way forward is to continue through dialogue to do the best we can to persuade those who care to listen to us, to make what we think is the right choice.
Outside of that, there is very little that anyone can do - legitimately that is - to make our point on the road to change.

And speaking of change... what's wrong with Elephant Man?

Judging from the accounts of Thursday's offerings at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, patrons were treated to a spectacular display of talent as the artistes made their points, minus the expletives and other more blatant expressions that have traditionally thrown them into confrontation with the law.

According to the colourful report penned by our Roland Henry, the artistes displayed commendable maturity as they made their points - political and otherwise - to roaring approval from the audience .all except O'Neil 'Elephant Man' Bryan. Of him, we don't know what to make. We can only hope that those who have anything to do with his career can sensitise him to the need to stay on the right side of the law in what currently appears to be a misguided attempt to tarnish our culture on the international scene.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World