As we enter another political ‘silly season’ we are seeing an increase in activity and partisan rhetoric that will only heighten after the date for local government elections is announced.

Given the history of political campaigning here we would not be surprised if candidates, their leaders, and supporters fall prey to acts of poor judgement and ill-timed comments as they try to obtain mileage for their party.

To be clear, we don’t expect election campaigns to be a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, devoid of colour and satire. However, what we cannot sanction is personal abuse, violence, indecency, and intolerance for opposing views.

Jamaica has come a long way in divesting itself of a large chunk of the culture of tribalism and narrow-mindedness that not only stifled our political growth but contributed significantly to appalling bloodshed and an absence of rigour in examining issues.

As we have pointed out before, Brand Jamaica has been gaining international traction, enhanced by our prowess in sport, particularly track and field; music; our first rate tourism product; and our recent macroeconomic performance.

That, we hold, must be matched by political sophistication if the world is to respect us even more than is now the case.

We expect, therefore, that the Jamaica Labour Party and the People’s National Party — now that they are again on the hustings — will present to the country ideas on how they intend to deal effectively with the many difficult issues.

Education, health care, crime, and the maintenance of infrastructure and services come readily to mind.

These are problems that successive governments have long struggled to overcome. Although there have been advances in some of these areas, there is still a lot more that needs to be done to ensure a better life for all Jamaicans.

We accept that much of what needs to be done requires money. However, while we are now seeing some wiggle room in the fiscal space, there is still too much waste of public funds. That is highlighted at almost every sitting of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament and in the annual auditor general’s report.

We maintain that the monies being wasted in the public sector can be put to good use in areas that would redound to the benefit of ordinary Jamaicans. The State, though, needs to strengthen its monitoring mechanisms.

Those are among the issues that we expect will be raised on political platforms during the campaign, with ideas and solutions put forward in detail, rather than buffoonery, personal attacks, and ridiculous promises that politicians know cannot be met.

We encourage the electorate to force those seeking a return to office to properly account for their stewardship; look beyond party allegiance to fire candidates who have failed to perform; and strictly examine the policies and programmes being proposed by both political parties.

Jamaicans, we hold, should make it abundantly clear to the people seeking their votes that they cannot come to the country with mere nice-sounding words and expect not to be challenged.

Additionally, we urge the electorate to send a strong message that their votes cannot be bought; neither will they accept gimmickry in place of substance.

Let the campaign be vigorous, thoughtful, peaceful, and fruitful.