Concerns about the increasing tendency by security force personnel (police and soldiers) to avoid voting in recent elections are well founded.

Of course, it largely reflects growing voter apathy nationally.

Social scientist Mr Ricardo Smith suggests that some police and soldiers find it difficult to vote because they are stationed far away from their place of registration.

Our understanding, though, is that, for Jamaican elections, arrangements are usually in place for election workers, police, and soldiers to cast their ballots at polling stations close to where they are stationed. Those categories vote a few days before the day designated for the general population.

That means there is really no valid excuse not to vote, other than personal choice.

As suggested earlier, our security forces are part and parcel of the wider population. So that, while allowing for the political party divide, applause for political leadership as well as grouses and complaints will be very much in sync with sentiments countrywide.

Against that background, there is no good reason to believe that the growing cynicism towards political leadership, so prevalent among Jamaicans, won’t also feature at a high level in any single group, including our security forces.

That cynicism, which largely breeds voter apathy, has its roots embedded in perceived wrongdoing by politicians dating back decades.

Tribal politics and politicians are largely blamed for the gun culture, central to criminal activity here since the 1960s. It reached an awful climax in 1980. Back then, hundreds of people died as a direct result of political violence.

Those days may be behind us, but the ugly tribalism is still manifested in the ludicrous tendency by some partisans to vandalise opponents’ posters, flags, and other paraphernalia, triggering contempt among neutrals.

Equally, the cheap insults exchanged on social media and political platforms win few friends for politicians among the uncommitted.

We believe much of the current ugliness could be reduced if not eliminated if the political ombudsman’s office is speedily removed from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) and returned to its independent role. This time, the ombudsman should have the power to do more than merely criticise or condemn wrongdoing.

Then there is the ongoing perception of Anancyism and thievery in high places, which has caused many to lose confidence in leadership.

Current hostility to the practice of politics didn’t happen overnight and won’t be reversed immediately.

We believe that a reasoning, rather than quarrelsome approach by our politicians, could help to command attention and respect among the growing body of uncommitted voters.

Properly organised debates at all levels embracing achievements and intentions — not just on television, as are now being planned — would help.

We note that while the Opposition People’s National Party published and circulated their manifesto this week, as far as we are aware the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is yet to indicate when its will be available.

Of course, the ruling party has published and circulated a list of achievements.

What if agreement could be reached, well ahead of elections, for all such information embracing detailed plans and achievements to be placed on the table in due time to facilitate thorough, civilised discussion and analysis?

We believe such an approach could go a considerable distance towards influencing more Jamaicans to take their political leaders seriously.