Dear Editor,

This letter supports the rising call for the removal of political flags from communities. The “planting of flags” is a sign of control and occupation. Removal of flags by adherents of another party can have serious outcomes such as retaliatory killings.

It is my thinking also that the virulent themes of political tribalism in speeches of political leaders, combined with these flags, appear to increase the political tension that ceased under the Bruce Golding political leadership. Why can’t these leaders tell us what they have in their minds to solve the problems in this country? Why can’t they advance a new type of political thrust characterised not by making the next party the enemy, but how both can work in the interest of the nation?

I think also that all signs illustrating “PNP” or “JLP” territory should be erased. We have about 67 years of political experience since Universal Adult Suffrage and there must be a lesson in civility of electioneering that we must learn. I do not think that the police should remove the flags. It is a duty of the police to call on the political leaders at all levels to remove these flags. Some of these materials could be donated to schools for some use. Please, let us tear down all those “tribal” flags and use members of both parties to replace them with our national flag. Indeed, this would be a spirited gesture to greet the 50th anniversary of Independence. We must do more than talk in the effort to stop further development of political tribalism in Jamaica.

Louis EA Moyston

thearchives01@yahoo.com