Dear Sir,
I have taken note of your editorial of August 27, 2014 and wish to bring a few of the observations contained therein into sharp focus.
Your newspaper asserted that "the effectiveness of a protest is measured by the number of people who turn up", and intimated that by that measure the JLP-led protest on Monday was uneventful. It also went on to dismiss as excuses on the part of the Opposition things that are actually incontrovertible facts, such as the weather, people's fear of victimisation, the culture amongst civil society groups in Jamaica. I categorically reject the assertion, therefore, that the JLP is making excuses and that the crowd was below expectations.
A conservative estimate of the crowd in Half-Way-Tree on Monday would put the number of protesters in the order of at least 3,000, which as far as I am concerned, represents a critical mass of participants, especially when one considers the purpose of the protest and the outcomes intended.
Let me hasten to inform your readers that it was never the Opposition's intention to have its people's peaceful protest and the effectiveness thereof measured on the basis of crowd size. After all, when it comes to mobilising thousands of Jamaicans and demonstrating organisational strength by pulling out massive crowds at any given time, the JLP has been there and has done that. The party's conference in November 2011 is a case in point.
So, let us set the record straight, it was never the Opposition's intention to have Half-Way-Tree overrun with protesters to the point where anarchy and disorder would have set in and created undue inconvenience to the motoring public and other people going about their lawful business. As a matter of fact, that would have incensed people rather than having them identify with us and support the case, which many passers-by did.
What the Opposition was more concerned about on Monday was the creation of a platform for collaborative action amongst stakeholders at every level of the society, and the execution of the protest in such a way that it would see the stage being set for the emergence of a coalition of well-thinking, civic-minded and conscious Jamaicans.
Suffice it to say, Monday's protest was successful in sending a clear and unequivocal message to the PNP Administration. So peaceful, orderly and mature was the protest that a senior superintendent of police, in a media interview, commended the conduct of the participants. Jamaicans are at a point where they are saying enough is enough, and they spoke in clear terms by telegraphing to the Government that its inconsiderate, unconscionable and arrogant conduct will no longer be tolerated.
While the Simpson Miller Administration, in true "wi nuh care" fashion, may not roll back the JUTC fare increases, the Opposition will not lose sight of the fact that the PNP will at some point have the people to answer to, and that will count for a lot in the final analysis.
Marlon Morgan
Deputy Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture
Don't watch crowd size, Observer
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I have taken note of your editorial of August 27, 2014 and wish to bring a few of the observations contained therein into sharp focus.
Your newspaper asserted that "the effectiveness of a protest is measured by the number of people who turn up", and intimated that by that measure the JLP-led protest on Monday was uneventful. It also went on to dismiss as excuses on the part of the Opposition things that are actually incontrovertible facts, such as the weather, people's fear of victimisation, the culture amongst civil society groups in Jamaica. I categorically reject the assertion, therefore, that the JLP is making excuses and that the crowd was below expectations.
A conservative estimate of the crowd in Half-Way-Tree on Monday would put the number of protesters in the order of at least 3,000, which as far as I am concerned, represents a critical mass of participants, especially when one considers the purpose of the protest and the outcomes intended.
Let me hasten to inform your readers that it was never the Opposition's intention to have its people's peaceful protest and the effectiveness thereof measured on the basis of crowd size. After all, when it comes to mobilising thousands of Jamaicans and demonstrating organisational strength by pulling out massive crowds at any given time, the JLP has been there and has done that. The party's conference in November 2011 is a case in point.
So, let us set the record straight, it was never the Opposition's intention to have Half-Way-Tree overrun with protesters to the point where anarchy and disorder would have set in and created undue inconvenience to the motoring public and other people going about their lawful business. As a matter of fact, that would have incensed people rather than having them identify with us and support the case, which many passers-by did.
What the Opposition was more concerned about on Monday was the creation of a platform for collaborative action amongst stakeholders at every level of the society, and the execution of the protest in such a way that it would see the stage being set for the emergence of a coalition of well-thinking, civic-minded and conscious Jamaicans.
Suffice it to say, Monday's protest was successful in sending a clear and unequivocal message to the PNP Administration. So peaceful, orderly and mature was the protest that a senior superintendent of police, in a media interview, commended the conduct of the participants. Jamaicans are at a point where they are saying enough is enough, and they spoke in clear terms by telegraphing to the Government that its inconsiderate, unconscionable and arrogant conduct will no longer be tolerated.
While the Simpson Miller Administration, in true "wi nuh care" fashion, may not roll back the JUTC fare increases, the Opposition will not lose sight of the fact that the PNP will at some point have the people to answer to, and that will count for a lot in the final analysis.
Marlon Morgan
Deputy Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture
Don't watch crowd size, Observer
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