Dear Editor,
It was not long ago that the Scottish Independence referendum was in the spotlight with the populace deciding to stay with the United Kingdom, and we as Jamaicans asked ourselves, why not us?
We witnessed the Irish allowing same-sex marriage through a referendum that surprised many who were accustomed to the conservative nature of the predominately Catholic nation. Some Jamaicans, then, found reason to call for a referendum on the buggery law as the issue took centre stage.
Then we recently observed the Greek people refusing further austerity in a momentous referendum that may have lasting repercussions for the world economy, specifically the European Union and the Eurozone economic bloc, with many other member nations contemplating their future in the union -- with Britain and Spain planning in the near future to bring the "yes or no" question to their respected electorate in referenda.
There has been an increase in calls for a grand referendum that will bring questions to the people that the 63 in Parliament do not dare decide for 2.8 million people. For us, these issues concern culture and the buggery law, the economy's ability to bear the strain of austerity, even democracy in becoming a republic. But this Jamaican grand referendum has been denied by most of our elite, including politicians, on a most disturbing basis. It goes beyond the tribal nature of our politics and insults the intelligence of the populace; indicating that the people are not 'smart' enough to make such important decision independently, and it would just be a mere political exercise.
There is no willingness to defend our 'ordinary' Jamaicans against this line of reasoning, nothing from civil society groups, hence our political leaders will never be committed to a referendum and general constitutional reform because they believe the Jamaican people are not smart enough to understand.
Certainly, the education of the electorate on critical matters cannot be left up to the whim of politicians, therefore, we need coordinated effort in public/private spaces to elevate the standard of what it means to be a voter, or potential voter, leading to better public participation and overall better governance.
Mario Boothe
m.raphael.b@gmail.com
They don't think us 'smart' enough for a referendum
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It was not long ago that the Scottish Independence referendum was in the spotlight with the populace deciding to stay with the United Kingdom, and we as Jamaicans asked ourselves, why not us?
We witnessed the Irish allowing same-sex marriage through a referendum that surprised many who were accustomed to the conservative nature of the predominately Catholic nation. Some Jamaicans, then, found reason to call for a referendum on the buggery law as the issue took centre stage.
Then we recently observed the Greek people refusing further austerity in a momentous referendum that may have lasting repercussions for the world economy, specifically the European Union and the Eurozone economic bloc, with many other member nations contemplating their future in the union -- with Britain and Spain planning in the near future to bring the "yes or no" question to their respected electorate in referenda.
There has been an increase in calls for a grand referendum that will bring questions to the people that the 63 in Parliament do not dare decide for 2.8 million people. For us, these issues concern culture and the buggery law, the economy's ability to bear the strain of austerity, even democracy in becoming a republic. But this Jamaican grand referendum has been denied by most of our elite, including politicians, on a most disturbing basis. It goes beyond the tribal nature of our politics and insults the intelligence of the populace; indicating that the people are not 'smart' enough to make such important decision independently, and it would just be a mere political exercise.
There is no willingness to defend our 'ordinary' Jamaicans against this line of reasoning, nothing from civil society groups, hence our political leaders will never be committed to a referendum and general constitutional reform because they believe the Jamaican people are not smart enough to understand.
Certainly, the education of the electorate on critical matters cannot be left up to the whim of politicians, therefore, we need coordinated effort in public/private spaces to elevate the standard of what it means to be a voter, or potential voter, leading to better public participation and overall better governance.
Mario Boothe
m.raphael.b@gmail.com
They don't think us 'smart' enough for a referendum
-->