The votes have been cast. The ballots counted. And the fat lady as sung her bit and taken her seat. Time to get back to the business of running the ship that is Jamaica, land we love.

Some two million Jamaicans had the opportunity to have their voices heard yesterday and only just over 30 per cent of them chose to be intentional with their franchise.

What is clear from Wednesday’s plebiscite, however, is that the island state of Jamaica belongs to no one political party as was being offensively touted by some in previous years.

As the numbers came in from the Electoral Office of Jamaica last evening the Jamaica Observer team of reporters, photographers, analysts, and support functions worked well into the night to deliver the results to a patient audience. The slow march kept the nation at seat’s edge. But we have a Government, and the people’s will must be honoured.

A Government by a minority is no less a Government, but there is much work to do to get the disinterested and uninterested to cast more than a gaze on the democracy that undergirds this nation.

It must not pass notice that, despite the multimillion-dollar campaigns aimed at connecting with Jamaicans, the majority are not responding with their participation.

The captivating jingles notwithstanding, the people of Jamaica continue to stay at home, even at risk of being overrun by a party with which they vehemently disagree.

What we are observing seems a wave past apathy to voter alienation. The voting public, by its eschewal, is telling the political class that the system does not work for them and any attempt to influence it will be a fruitless exercise.

The solution to these circumstances is definitely not a third party, as the late non-starters seem unable to arouse the attention of any quantum of support to make a serious offence.

We in this space summon the learned community of scholars at the tertiary institutions of this land to assess and define what needs to occur to shore up the country’s democracy that is suffering from lukewarm attention, if not plain indifference.

We refuse to wallow in this state, and the country cannot afford to wait another five years to again have this conversation take pride of place. The threat to our sovereignty — the republic we pursue — is too great to delay.

The responsibility to see this mission to a reasonable pass is at the doorstep of every Jamaican. This mantle must be borne by all.

Nationhood is not a cloak of black, green and gold to be worn in celebration. It is being convicted, duty-bound even, to do the work necessary so that the nation “may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity”, which requires active, intentional service.

Time now to put Jamaica first; its future is a paramount priority. The aim must be to give voice to those whose mouths remain with pursed lips and feet palsied from voting.