Dear Editor,
Fifty-one years have passed, since we are an independent nation yet our political growth is stagnant, no different from 50 years ago when a challenge to the leadership of any of the two parties was regarded as sacrilegious.
It's pointless cataloging the various challenges and alienation of those who dare to challenge the incumbent leaders, these are already documented. We should put the ancient behaviour of the past away and create a democratic process to elect a party leader. Were we to examine our progress over the years it would be difficult to determine which of the two parties are more democratic in electing a leader.
It would appear that a party leader believes he/she owns the party and has the right to hang on to the leadership for life, whether their tenure is in the best interest of the country or not. It is obvious that something is seriously wrong why all our leaders so far seem to believe that they should not be opposed.
The problem must be in the selection process. Considering that the party leader is a prime minister in-waiting, the best person shoud be chosen.
The current selection process should be revamped and replaced with a more democratic system:
The delegate core should be expanded and should not be left to certain politicians to chose who should be delegates.
Delegates should have a minimum educational standard of four grade II CSEC passes. Delegate selection should be pro-rated, vetted volunteers, and others selected by a special committe.
Every contributor to the political party shoud be allowed to vote for party leader and their influence should stop there.
Any registered voter of the parties should be allowed to vote for party leader.
Voting should be at special voting stations only.
Voting shoud be supervised by the electoral office only.
The candidates for leadership should face a live television panel for a debate, and fair percentage of questions should be asked by public.
The polilical parties should examine their constitutions and make changes to their selection process.
I am sure that many politicians and there surrogates are saying this is nonsense. Nonsense or not you need to seriously examine your internal democracy before it infests our entire democratic system.
Tony Miles
tonymiles1940@gmail.com
Party electoral systems need review
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Fifty-one years have passed, since we are an independent nation yet our political growth is stagnant, no different from 50 years ago when a challenge to the leadership of any of the two parties was regarded as sacrilegious.
It's pointless cataloging the various challenges and alienation of those who dare to challenge the incumbent leaders, these are already documented. We should put the ancient behaviour of the past away and create a democratic process to elect a party leader. Were we to examine our progress over the years it would be difficult to determine which of the two parties are more democratic in electing a leader.
It would appear that a party leader believes he/she owns the party and has the right to hang on to the leadership for life, whether their tenure is in the best interest of the country or not. It is obvious that something is seriously wrong why all our leaders so far seem to believe that they should not be opposed.
The problem must be in the selection process. Considering that the party leader is a prime minister in-waiting, the best person shoud be chosen.
The current selection process should be revamped and replaced with a more democratic system:
The delegate core should be expanded and should not be left to certain politicians to chose who should be delegates.
Delegates should have a minimum educational standard of four grade II CSEC passes. Delegate selection should be pro-rated, vetted volunteers, and others selected by a special committe.
Every contributor to the political party shoud be allowed to vote for party leader and their influence should stop there.
Any registered voter of the parties should be allowed to vote for party leader.
Voting should be at special voting stations only.
Voting shoud be supervised by the electoral office only.
The candidates for leadership should face a live television panel for a debate, and fair percentage of questions should be asked by public.
The polilical parties should examine their constitutions and make changes to their selection process.
I am sure that many politicians and there surrogates are saying this is nonsense. Nonsense or not you need to seriously examine your internal democracy before it infests our entire democratic system.
Tony Miles
tonymiles1940@gmail.com
Party electoral systems need review
-->