Mr Karl Samuda’s revelation in today’s edition of the Observer that he is rejecting assistance from “area leaders” in his North Central St Andrew constituency at election time, is indeed encouraging news.

According to our report, Mr Samuda said he has told these so-called area leaders that he’s prepared to lose his seat rather than benefit from their assistance.

“I have advised everyone at the area leader level. Those elements exist and they have existed,” Mr Samuda is reported as saying yesterday. “I have had discussions and I have indicated in the strongest way I can that any continuation of activity that results in breaking the law, intimidation, extortion, anything of that kind has no place.”

What has made Mr Samuda’s confession even more heartening is that he went further to declare that his party was also intent on giving the cold shoulder to gangsters who are associated with the organisation.

“Gone are the days when persons engaged in gangsterism and donmanship can seek to find political affiliation with the party we represent as the Government,” Mr Samuda is quoted as saying. “There is no safe haven in the Jamaica Labour Party for persons engaged in crime and violence and who lead gangs. Those days are over, it is a redundant notion that through force you can influence people to vote one way or the other.”

It is, as we said, reassuring, for it is an open secret that politicians have been benefiting from support from unsavoury characters, especially in garrison constituencies where residents’ votes are determined not by their conscience, but by thug rule and fear of being harmed, even if they are perceived to be supportive of the opposing party.

We have no reason to doubt Mr Samuda’s conviction. However, we will be looking on to test his commitment, as his actions going forward will speak more loudly than his words yesterday.

That commitment, we expect, will be subjected to even more challenge, given Mr Samuda’s position as general secretary of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party — a position that requires him to interact with the party’s membership which he now has the task of convincing to shun those who would blemish the party’s attempt to burnish its image.

We support Mr Samuda’s call for other parliamentarians to take a similar stand against these area leaders. But the MPs, we suggest, should go even further and report to the police any illegal activities in which they know these “area leaders” are engaged. For by doing so, the MPs would begin the process of giving credibility to their efforts at staring down gangsters.

At the same time, the parties should go about cleaning from their slate of candidates, people of questionable character and those who have shown nothing but contempt for the people of this country.

In that regard, we note the position adopted by the Opposition People’s National Party, through its Integrity Commission, to ensure that that party’s candidates going into the next elections are above board.

It is a commendable initiative that we expect will be respected by the party leadership, especially in cases where the commission has reason to probe the activities of a senior candidate and finds that candidate unsuitable.

It is past time that this country enjoys political representation that is not tainted by greed or corruption.

Mr Samuda’s confession is good for the soul of this country.