Dear Editor,

It must be obvious to both political parties by now that the selection of candidates for constituencies should be inclusive of the constituents. I would love to see those putting themselves up be resident in the constituency and participate in public debates telling how they will approach the development of the constituency.

I did take time to look up the relevant constitutions of each party and was very surprised at how specific the parties were, and specifically that it was the party’s future and well-being which is stated as the objective, not the country of Jamaica. Candidates have to be members of their party in good standing, and will be selected by the executive council of each party. Nothing in their constitution requires the candidate to be a resident of the constituency, or to have a plan for how they intend to carry out the representation; only how they will further the aims of the party. That is not my vision of Jamaica. The party should either change this requirement or step aside to allow those who have Jamaica’s interest as their priority to come forward.

It seems to me then that the problem we have with political representation is with the party executive, not the individuals in the party. Of note, with the People’s National Party (PNP) constitution, it’s based on a Democratic-socialist platform, which I thought had changed after the 1980s. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) constitution seems to not have any idealistic platform as socialist or capitalist.

With the information obtained from both main political parties, it appears that the Jamaican public has to be prepared to create and maintain a framework in which political parties can operate within the framework of the government apparatus. Clearly, the PNP is of the opinion that they, a private organisation, represent the country. This cannot be the case. The JLP also is irresponsible in the operations of the State, as was the case of its failure to manage and comply with agreements with international entities.

The function of Parliament has to be changed. Its current method of operation, where MPs are mere proxies of the political parties has not served us well. There needs to be mature deliberations with the people.

The development of the constituencies must be placed front and centre of the country’s plans for going forward. The constituents living there are most knowledgeable of the issues and needs of the area. So far the process that each party has in place has not worked for the last 53 years. We have continued at the whim and fancy of politicians who are only interested in their own success and the party’s future.

If I have selected you and your organisation to manage the affairs of my neighbourhood, reporting to me in an honest and timely manner is your responsibility. Any other opinion of politicians’ responsibility to citizens is a non-starter. We will not be talked down to and we will not be ignored. Jamaica is neither PNP nor JLP country. Jamaica belongs to all Jamaicans, at home and abroad, not to two political parties, and the sooner they realise that the better.

The days of slavery, imperialism and colonialism are over. Independence for Jamaica was not legislation to allow political parties to continue slavery with them in charge. It is notable that neither party has responded to the many calls for the revision to the system of governance.

Concerned Jamaicans should take the time to read the political parties’ respective constitutions, and then the Constitution of Jamaica:

JLP: www.jamaicalabourparty.com/content/constitution-jamaica-labour-party

PNP: issuu.com/miltonmiles/docs/constitution

J’can Constitution: pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Jamaica/jam62.html

Hugh M Dunbar

hmdenergy@gmail.com