Dear Editor,

I am unsure if enough of our citizens are aware of the importance of democracy, the process that gives our people the power to make the decision to govern the country, the process needed to have fair and balanced decisions on behalf of us all.

Far too long I have witnessed the careers of those who have been elected to serve become sidetracked or tainted under the influence of a corrupt system or by manipulation by influence peddlers.

The practice of “putting a friend in a position” weakens our governing systems, creates opportunity for graft, and generates disillusionment and distrust among the electorate. This has been reflected by dwindling levels of participation in our elections.

Like many young Jamaicans, I used to have high expectations of the outcome as elections rolled around. I looked forward to the succession that would lead to a grand brighter future.

However, I have seen our youngsters succumb to disillusionment, an assumption that it will be “six of one and half-dozen of the other”. The nation-building ambitions that motivated our ancestors to vote seem to have dissipated, and we live in a society that is encouraging us to ignore collective needs and focus only on individual goals.

The whiff of competitive elections is now in the air and I urge all participants, be they candidates or voters, to take a broad view of what is involved. To candidates, I say work to regain the confidence of the electorate by allowing fair play in democracy. To the voters, I say fight for your right to choose who you want and the policies that will best govern your decisions.

Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed, be assertive. It took us a long time to get here, but this is not the final destination. We’re on a journey. Demand that your voices be heard.

Michelle Tulloch

tourismdebate@gmail.com