When is our 53-y-o politics going to grow up?
Dear Editor,
I write to react to your lead story in the Sunday Observer, headlined ‘Gordon-Webley is out’ dealing with the rejection of her application for membership in the People’s National Party (PNP).
Probably the PNP may wish to assist me in giving advice to several of my relatives who, in the past, have supported and voted for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and who have decided to switch their support and vote for the PNP in the next election. The problem is that they have been known to publicly describe leaders of the PNP, past and present, in far more disparaging terms than that which allegedly was used by Gordon-Webley, and for which she now apparently stands condemned and rejected for membership in the PNP.
It appears that the dilemma my relatives face is whether their support and vote for the PNP will be welcome and accepted, especially as they live in one of the marginal constituencies won by the JLP in the last elections.
I have already advised them that application for membership of a party is different from casting their precious vote for that party. The party begs you for your vote and support and, having given it, if you decide to apply for membership, it has the right to scorn and reject your application on the basis that you are not a fit and proper person to become a member of their tribe. Have I been fair in my advice to my relatives? When is our 53-year-old politics going to grow up?
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com
