Dear Editor,

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced the date for the local government elections and the illegality disguised as excitement has begun.

The recent unfortunate incident in St Thomas, where a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporter lost a portion of her leg on a motorcade, brings the issue of safety and the law into focus. It has been an age-old situation in Jamaica that candidates and their party supporters openly break the law by putting themselves in harm’s way. Candidates and supporters form metres-long convoys, swerving through traffic, with their body parts protruding through windows and doors, not to mention those perched atop vehicles.

It is ironic that our lawmakers and their proxies are the ones who oversee the blatant disregard for the law and the safety of the people who they seek to lead. It is even more ironic that these political motorcades are often piloted by police officers who have a duty to uphold the law.

The police, however, are placed in a peculiar position due to the volume of breeches and the practicality of prosecuting the offenders in the heat of the jubilations.

Our leaders are duty-bound to ensure the safety of Jamaican citizens and visitors alike, and telling supporters not to hang out of moving vehicles only when there is an accident is not acceptable. While the recent incident in St Thomas was sad, the lesson to be learnt can be lost in the excitement going forward. Hence, our leaders and candidates should lead by example and constantly denounce lawlessness in every form. People of Jamaica, answer these questions:

• Is politics worth your limbs?

• Will your political representative support you if you were to lose a body part because of politics?

• Who feels the pain in an accident?

• Is politics paying your bills?

Think on these things.

Hezekan Bolton

h_e_z_e@hotmail.com