Dear Editor,
On February 25, 2016, the voters of St Elizabeth North Eastern will be going to the polls to choose from four candidates representing the People’s National Party (PNP), Jamaica Labour Party, Independent People’s National Party and United Independents’ Congress (UIC) who have declared their interest in being the member of parliament (MP) for the constituency well known as a PNP stronghold or garrison. But should the word “revolution” be tagged to the race that could possible see the first independent MP elected to Gordon House?
One of the independent candidates —Joseph Patterson, president of the UIC — in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, said he believes in his campaign. He foresees victory, and following his historic entry into Parliament he will “bring forth a revolution like never before” as the first elected independent MP. The UIC will advocate for constitutional and governance reform — that the current political establishment has been unwilling to touch for over 53 years — and Patterson is committed to bringing the Congress’s platforms to Parliament.
We should not underestimate the ability of Jamaicans to recognise change. Accordingly, there is no doubt in my mind that constituents in other areas of the island will begin to question their own situation and stop settling for “the lesser evil”. This change in attitude towards politics and governance is what we must begin to expect and demand. A single constituency can spark something much bigger than St Elizabeth North Eastern, and give Jamaica back its independence almost 54 years after it exchanged one master for another.
I encourage all the voters in St Elizabeth North Eastern, especially the youth, not to fear or be intimated, but embrace the fact that you don’t need guns or bombs like in Tunisia or Egypt to create real change in Jamaica.
Mario Boothe
m.raphael.b@gmail.com
On February 25, 2016, the voters of St Elizabeth North Eastern will be going to the polls to choose from four candidates representing the People’s National Party (PNP), Jamaica Labour Party, Independent People’s National Party and United Independents’ Congress (UIC) who have declared their interest in being the member of parliament (MP) for the constituency well known as a PNP stronghold or garrison. But should the word “revolution” be tagged to the race that could possible see the first independent MP elected to Gordon House?
One of the independent candidates —Joseph Patterson, president of the UIC — in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, said he believes in his campaign. He foresees victory, and following his historic entry into Parliament he will “bring forth a revolution like never before” as the first elected independent MP. The UIC will advocate for constitutional and governance reform — that the current political establishment has been unwilling to touch for over 53 years — and Patterson is committed to bringing the Congress’s platforms to Parliament.
We should not underestimate the ability of Jamaicans to recognise change. Accordingly, there is no doubt in my mind that constituents in other areas of the island will begin to question their own situation and stop settling for “the lesser evil”. This change in attitude towards politics and governance is what we must begin to expect and demand. A single constituency can spark something much bigger than St Elizabeth North Eastern, and give Jamaica back its independence almost 54 years after it exchanged one master for another.
I encourage all the voters in St Elizabeth North Eastern, especially the youth, not to fear or be intimated, but embrace the fact that you don’t need guns or bombs like in Tunisia or Egypt to create real change in Jamaica.
Mario Boothe
m.raphael.b@gmail.com