Dear Editor,
The failure of our political leaders to notice the decay of our democracy has been no mere oversight. Rather it was an omission of a selfish nature that comes with the territory of the Jamaican political leadership that puts self before constituents and nation.
The idea that the system is for the powerful few has sent the constitutional reform discussion into the void of 'soft issues' or the 'that cyaan eat' grey area of the Jamaican consciousness.
The internal power struggles of recent times in the two major political parties cannot and should not be passed off as simple politicking, especially after an unfortunate fiery climax in MP Raymond Pryce's St Elizabeth North Eastern constituency.
Another unpleasant example included Dr Bloomfield losing his candidate selection race, then being 'reinstated' after a strong showing on an internal poll. The People's National Party's general secretary tried to explain that party delegates are aware of and understand the party's constitution and its regulations that the candidate selection was an "indicative" ballot due the constituency being "provisional". The action of the party would have offended any layperson's grasp of democracy. It must be seen for what it is: A complete disregard for democratic principles, corrupt processes and glaring mistrust in our political system and institutions.
With the shady inner workings of the political parties on full display, there must be tripled effort to improve our governance structure through constitutional reform. The recent calls by the private sector have only reinforced the need for Parliament, both the governing administration and the opposition, to embrace and concentrate on constitutional reform. The modernisation of Jamaica's democratic principles and processes has not kept abreast with the rest of the developing world or those nations we aspire to be like by 2030.
As the Partnership for Jamaica Agreement -- which was signed by both parties -- states ,we must "reaffirm and recommit to the principles of social dialogue and partnership, specifically to further the process of deepening democracy and participatory decision-making".
As citizens -- private sector, civil society, church, and other internal forces -- we must bring pressure on all individual candidates for elected office and their affiliated political organisations to commit to the execution of constitutional reform before 2030. It is ultimately the hands of Parliament that must be moved to set controls upon itself and repower the majority.
Mario Boothe
m.raphael.b@gmail.com
Constitutional reform a must before 2030
-->
The failure of our political leaders to notice the decay of our democracy has been no mere oversight. Rather it was an omission of a selfish nature that comes with the territory of the Jamaican political leadership that puts self before constituents and nation.
The idea that the system is for the powerful few has sent the constitutional reform discussion into the void of 'soft issues' or the 'that cyaan eat' grey area of the Jamaican consciousness.
The internal power struggles of recent times in the two major political parties cannot and should not be passed off as simple politicking, especially after an unfortunate fiery climax in MP Raymond Pryce's St Elizabeth North Eastern constituency.
Another unpleasant example included Dr Bloomfield losing his candidate selection race, then being 'reinstated' after a strong showing on an internal poll. The People's National Party's general secretary tried to explain that party delegates are aware of and understand the party's constitution and its regulations that the candidate selection was an "indicative" ballot due the constituency being "provisional". The action of the party would have offended any layperson's grasp of democracy. It must be seen for what it is: A complete disregard for democratic principles, corrupt processes and glaring mistrust in our political system and institutions.
With the shady inner workings of the political parties on full display, there must be tripled effort to improve our governance structure through constitutional reform. The recent calls by the private sector have only reinforced the need for Parliament, both the governing administration and the opposition, to embrace and concentrate on constitutional reform. The modernisation of Jamaica's democratic principles and processes has not kept abreast with the rest of the developing world or those nations we aspire to be like by 2030.
As the Partnership for Jamaica Agreement -- which was signed by both parties -- states ,we must "reaffirm and recommit to the principles of social dialogue and partnership, specifically to further the process of deepening democracy and participatory decision-making".
As citizens -- private sector, civil society, church, and other internal forces -- we must bring pressure on all individual candidates for elected office and their affiliated political organisations to commit to the execution of constitutional reform before 2030. It is ultimately the hands of Parliament that must be moved to set controls upon itself and repower the majority.
Mario Boothe
m.raphael.b@gmail.com
Constitutional reform a must before 2030
-->