ST JAMES, Jamaica – Minister of Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte is urging members of the security forces to exercise their right to vote in the local government elections on Monday, February 26.

“We are in the season where the democratic process is alive and well. The right to vote is a fundamentally guaranteed right. It didn’t happen overnight. I do not care what choice you make, because that’s a matter for you. But I encourage you to go out and participate in the process,” Malahoo Forte said.

She was bringing greetings at the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Fourth Annual Security Forces and Youth Mentorship Prayer Breakfast held at the SDA Conference Centre in Mount Salem, St James recently.

She told the members of security forces to be mindful that some party supporters will display a lack of judgement over the election season.

“And as you discharge your duties over the season, bear in mind that some of our people are exuberant and some of them sometimes behave silly, as they say. But it is the season when they get an opportunity to participate in the democratic process and it only comes periodically. So just bear that in mind,” said the minister of constitutional affairs.

She thanked members of the security forces for their service to Jamaica and called on some of the youths to consider a career in the security forces.

“Boys and girls I hope that some of you will consider serving as the older boys and girls are serving and that together we can work to make our nation a better place to live in. It is a beautiful place. Sometimes we take it for granted and sometimes we do not appreciate it. But it is a beautiful place. It is worth fighting for. Thank you so much for serving the nation,” she said.