Making a new start in Jamaica

Friday, January 20, 2012

Dear Editor,

It seems that Jamaica is stuck with a two-party system that long ago ran out of ideas, energy, and creativity. No third party has been able to break the political monopoly of the People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party. Rotating the major parties has not brought about any fundamental change in either the political system or the political culture. The inherited British parliamentary system remains in place after 50 years. And rather than opt for independent or non-affiliated representatives, it seems that a large sector of the eligible population would just rather not vote. Clearly, some new thinking is needed.

One idea that might result in a new political start would be for the incoming administration to convene a constitutional convention to revise the Jamaican constitution. This would be an opportunity to examine seriously what form the Jamaican political system should assume that would be better at coping with the many serious economic and social problems that have so far eluded successive administrations over the past.

Another idea worth considering would be the declaration of a national unity convention in which both parties in Parliament would set up a joint committee that would create a blueprint for the next 10 years. It should not be a lengthy document. Select the five most pressing problems and think through together how best to solve them. At the same time, both parties would resolve, if elected to the majority in parliament, to carry out the programme that they agreed upon in the joint committee.

What Jamaica needs at the moment is an immediate time out from empty political rhetoric. The elections are over. The serious problems remain and threaten to overwhelm the society. So just let bygones be bygones and put the country ahead of private ambitions. It is much to ask; but maybe, just maybe, this time a few serious people on both sides of the government realise that the country is spiralling rapidly downwards.

Don Manchand

Miami, Florida

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Making a new start in Jamaica