Dear Editor,

My parents were born in the late 1950s early 1960s and grew up during Jamaica’s ‘golden age’, where the economy was humming, albeit with inequality levels that would make one’s eyes water. They were shaped by the 70s and 80s politics and got there chance in 1989.

However, the story ended badly as that generation allowed, for whatever reason, an unimaginative People’s National Party (PNP) to steer the ship for nigh on two decades.

That generation that lived through some exciting times politically, with achievements not limited to one party (see HEART and NHT), instead of acting boldly and with vision fell into a stupor from which they haven’t recovered.

A generation raised on issues-based politics fell back on partisan lines, a generation led by giants such as Michael Manley and Edward Seaga has offered up nothing that can match them in spite of more opportunities. A generation that received so much now offer so little politically.

This is not to say that they haven’t been successful in other areas. Who in the 1950’s could have dreamt of black bank tellers let alone a large black middle class?

Socially we have come a long way and our parents deserve credit for that, but politically they have failed us. The fact is that they gave us 17 years of stasis by voting consistently for the PNP and not for shaking up the Jamaica Labour Party hierarchy sooner.

The question now is, will my generation that came of age in 2007 follow our parents lead? Will we allow for shoddy leadership and will we allow for partisan issues to separate us or will we unite? 

Those are questions that fast need answering because Jamaica can’t afford another bad generation politically.

Alexander Scott