Dear Editor,

I suspect, like me, many of us here in Jamaica stayed glued to our televisions watching the returns of the United States midterm elections.

I observed and came away drawing comparisons with voters here in Jamaica. Like voters here who vote along party lines, voters in America — especially those in the Republican Party — also vote along party lines regardless of the qualification, integrity, and ethics of the candidates. These voters even vote against their own interests.

In Georgia the Republican Party candidate for the US Senate seat Herschel Walker, whose qualification, integrity, ethics, and moral compass came into question, received a significant number of votes.

Similarly, in Jamaica, voters continue to vote along Jamaica Labour Party-People’s National Party lines, even when the integrity and ethical lapses of the party candidates are made bare.

I noticed also that in the state of Florida the Democratic Party will never get a foothold because the Hispanics — especially Florida Cuban Americans — will never vote for a Democratic Party candidate, regardless of their unquestioned integrity, ethics, and qualification. The Democratic Party continues to spend millions to shore up Florida’s democratic candidates and get the same failed result every time.

I think it is high time that the Joe Biden Administration lift the over-60 years embargo that the US Government imposed on Cuba. Governments the world over have called for the lifting of this senseless ban, yet it is still in place. The continuation of the embargo is political and remains in place to appease the Florida Cuban population. By now the Democratic Party must realise it will never get the vote of this segment.

Curiously, Florida Cuban/Hispanic elected officials all have a story about their families escaping communist Cuba; however, the fact-checkers show otherwise.

As former US President Richard Nixon demonstrated in communist China, engaging the Government through cultural exchange is the way to go to achieve meaningful change. Today communist China is one of America’s biggest trading partners. However, Florida Cubans do not want the US Administration to engage the Cuban Government to achieve change. Ironically, they have a problem with Cuba’s communist policies but not with those of China. Hypocrites they are.

Authnel S Reid

reidaut@icloud.com