When we called on the political parties last week in this space to take responsibility for the loss of a woman’s leg in an election campaign motorcade in St Thomas we had no idea that within the week there would be an additional two
— this time more deadly
— campaign-related tragedies.

What did not come as a surprise, though, is the usual press statement from a hapless party spokesperson expressing great sorrow, aimed at nothing more than fooling the public about how heartbroken they are.

On February 11, 2024, the St Catherine North police reported the death of a man, described as a mortician, from injuries sustained during a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) motorcade in the vicinity of Featherbed Lane in the parish.

The mother of the deceased is quoted in news reports as telling the police that her son fell from a moving vehicle and succumbed to head injuries at Spanish Town Hospital.

Then two days ago, a 15-year-old boy fell off a moving bus which was part of a People’s National Party (PNP) local government campaign activity in the Southboro Division of the same parish, and died from his injuries at hospital.

In the now-familiar news release expressing condolence, PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell could not even bring himself to admit that it was a mere boy who was part of the campaign, referring to him only as “a young man”.

“The People’s National Party deeply regrets the tragic accident resulting in the death of a young man in the Southboro Division this evening. The young man tragically fell off a bus and later died at the Spanish Town Hospital,” he said, no doubt hoping that no one would notice.

Apparently, the death of a man, a boy, and the severed leg of a JLP supporter are not enough to shake the parties out of their apathy and lack of empathy for the supporters that they have lured with food and money to leave their homes to campaign for them.

Instead of announcing measures to rein in the illegal practices on their campaign motorcades, all Dr Campbell could do was “express profound sadness and extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family during this unimaginably difficult time”. Correction, he did offer “thoughts and prayers” and urged “everyone to respect the privacy of the grieving family… We ask that they be allowed the space they need to navigate this heartbreaking situation”.

We guess this means that no one should talk about this incident, thus sparing Dr Campbell and his party the shame and embarrassment of having a child die on a campaign trail.

Much like JLP Leader Mr Andrew Holness, who is reported to have said he would visit the home of the woman whose leg was severed, the “PNP commits its unwavering support to the family affected by this terrible tragedy… We stand ready to assist in any way possible and offer our deepest sympathies during this challenging period”.

The parties must do better. Time come now to end the years of motorcades featuring reckless driving, bodies protruding dangerously from the vehicles, illegal overtaking, and other breaches of the road safety regulations that endanger or inconvenience other motorists on the road.

We ask sincerely, can the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, in the role of political ombudsman, bring the parties together to address this deadly problem?