Dear Editor,

I, like everyone else, am drawn to familiarity. So, I congratulate my colleague, Dr Norman Dunn, and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on their recently forged partnership in that of Dr Dunn’s selection as the JLP’s candidate for St Mary South Eastern.

It is encouraging to see our political leaders make bold and refreshing decisions, and Dr Dunn, and many others like him, must have realised by now that politics does not take a liking for newcomers and relatively young politicians. Although this is so on both sides of the divide, the mechanisms by which this manifests itself seem to be different for the JLP.

For as long as I can remember, the JLP’s hierarchical structure has been strained; to the young JLP member, such rough playing has been like “rite of passage”. The People’s National Party seeks the “heart” in its members; but in a way in which respect is expected rather than demanded. I recall how Damion Crawford had to spill his heart — and his tears — to be allowed to enter representational politics.

A political party which has lost its previously contested general election would expectedly need to go through a process of restructuring to be a more formidable competitor the next time around. I hope that the JLP will cease from considering “big bangs” as the way to do this.

Dr Dunn is Cabinet material, and it is my hope that all those like him are brought to the fore, and those who aren’t truly so will just step back and offer their support for the sake of both their parties and country.

Andre O Sheppy

Norwood, St James

astrangely@outlook.com