WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The independent candidate for Westmoreland Eastern, Derrick ‘Black X’ Robinson, is calling on the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) to release the symbols of independent candidates who will be contesting the September 3 General Election so that voters can familiarise themselves with them before heading to the polls.

He is hoping that this can be achieved before election day workers and security force members head to the polls on Friday.

“The notice of the grant of poll posted in the public spaces across Jamaica has pertinent information about each candidate contesting the poll, except for the symbols of each candidate. This is a genuine oversight that can be corrected immediately without delay and before the opening of the special poll on Friday, August 29th,” stated Robinson in a media release on Wednesday.

“It is democratic justice and fair play to all candidates and gives further opportunity to the voting population to a more detailed education about each candidate beyond the psychological pressures in the polling booth on election day,” added Robinson.

Meanwhile, Robinson told Observer Online on Tuesday that running as a candidate in the upcoming September 3 general election is a “dignified and desperate cry for help”.

“Is it possible to see me as one sees a humble yet dignified person desperately crying for help… who will see a humble yet dignified and upright plea for help,” stated Robinson.

Robinson, whose larynx was surgically removed, says no one seems to pay him much attention.

“Imagine, I am in Bethel Town and both the opposition leader (Mark Golding) and the Prime Minister [Dr Andrew Holness] came to Bethel Town Square to pass through, doing spot meetings… I was right there in the square on both intervals, and no one at all saw it fit to point out to any of the two leaders that the first disability candidate in the history of Jamaica’s national general elections was sitting right there in the square amongst everyone,” he said.

‘I am running in this general election because my ideas for my beloved country desperately need a platform. I’m grateful for the challenge even though no one sees it fit to ask how I am surviving, and how I am earning a daily bread,” he added.

— Anthony Lewis