Dear Editor,

For the sake of our democracy it is very important that there is an over 50 per cent turnout in the next general election.

Currently I don’t see the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People’s National Party (PNP) combining to achieve this kind of voter turnout.

In order to have an average to an unlikely high voter turnout an independent party has to be a part of the solution. Currently the country has three registered political parties: JLP, PNP, and United Independent Congress(UIC).

Currently the UIC is not a strong third party. In the upcoming local government election it should’ve been promoting its candidates and trying to create upsets by winning a couple seats. Independents typically stand a better chance of winning a local rather than a general election. Independent parties will argue that the media doesn’t cover them enough when it is the party that should be motivating the media to cover it.

Both major political parties have a love-hate attitude towards a major third party because it may benefit or affect them negatively. The media houses normally sponsor two polls per year, and it is my humble opinion that they should include the UIC in these polls or just put “Independent Party” as a third option.

Both the JLP and PNP will not want to include a third party in their polls, but the media owe the country at least a third option. In the United States third parties are polled even though they don’t stand a chance of winning.

Third parties will widen the interest of the populace, which is good for those of you who are tired of both major political parties and want more options.

Teddylee Gray

St Ann

teddylee.gray@gmail.com