Dear Editor,

Congratulations to the People’s National Party (PNP) for winning the popular vote in the recent local government elections. Special commendation to councillors-elect for the Christiana and Spalding divisions in which I live and work, respectively. Both Oneil Evans and Trevor Gordon from the respective aforementioned divisions were elected on a PNP ticket. The officers and workers of the PNP are to be congratulated for working their way to regaining the confidence and trust of the local electorates.

I think the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) inability to convince the average public sector worker that its policy of remuneration, as evidenced in the recent public sector reclassification, is based on shared sacrifice played to the PNP’s advantage.

Additionally, there are many Jamaicans, including myself, who support the party but feel that the leadership of the party is out of touch with the struggles of the common man. Prosperity seems to only favour a few and the majority seem to be left behind. While the macroeconomic variables are impressive, the actual translation in benefit to the common man does not seem to correspond. Discerning supporters like myself don’t see the rhetoric matching the results.

Both the PNP and JLP should be mindful that there is no reason to gloat, and it is imperative to unify the country at the local government and central government levels, especially in circumstances in which there are blocks of people who either did not vote or could not bring themselves to vote for either the PNP or JLP.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the Government must demonstrate humility and graciousness. Now is not the time for licking wounds but for serious reflection and introspection. The closeness of the last local government elections suggests that Jamaicans are calling for political unity and bipartisanship.

As a patriotic Jamaican I am calling on everyone to respect the will of the electorate and for the elected representatives to accept that their chief function is service to the people by building better communities.

Let us join hands and hearts to make Jamaica the best place on Earth to live, raise families, do business, and praise God irrespective of our political conviction and loyalty. The word is always love!

Andre’ A O Wellington

andrewellington344@yahoo.com