I wish to congratulate Mario Boothe who, as a young person, has said what so many Jamaicans are afraid to say in his piece ‘Why damn non-voters to hell-ocracy?’
Like him, I see no reason to participate in this current democratic farce. Raising the points about what comprises a democracy is a great start. It does require dialogue, and my experience with the politicians of Jamaica ever since I have been aware of them is that, once elected, they shun the people. What I also know is that most if not all request and obtain a waiver in the Parliament, allowing them to do business with Government, leaving them with little or no time to do the people’s business.
After this election, I will make a point to join with other advocates and people of like mind and use the tools of the State, namely the judicial process, to challenge the political system. Nothing in the constitution protects us, the public, from politicians, as if we elected them to think for us. They have collectively weakened our society by setting poor examples of leadership.
Six aspects of the constitution require immediate review:
1) Ministers should be professionals selected from the appropriate field in which the ministry exists and in which they have demonstrated expertise.
2) No waiver to be allowed to any MP to do business with Government; their access to information gives them an unfair advantage over all others, and conflicts with their responsibility to safeguard the interest of the public that they are elected to serve, not profit from.
3) All ministers be removed from authority to determine outcomes relating to events occurring as a result of acts of Parliament or other legislation. This is the province of the judiciary to interpret the law.
4) The Senate is supposed to be a deliberative body, not a rubber stamp of the political party that selects them. Senators must be directly elected, a maximum of two per parish.
5) The prime minister must be directly elected by the people.
6) The election date must no longer be a tool of political whim to be used for political advantage by any political party.
I wish to advise any party elected through the upcoming election that these things represent elements inhibiting social, economic and cultural growth of Jamaica as a nation and need to be at the top of the agenda. I wish all the aspirants peace and safety in their endeavours, and hope that they will make themselves available to make these corrections in our governance in the coming five years.
Hugh M Dunbar
Architect
hmdenergy@gmail.com
Like him, I see no reason to participate in this current democratic farce. Raising the points about what comprises a democracy is a great start. It does require dialogue, and my experience with the politicians of Jamaica ever since I have been aware of them is that, once elected, they shun the people. What I also know is that most if not all request and obtain a waiver in the Parliament, allowing them to do business with Government, leaving them with little or no time to do the people’s business.
After this election, I will make a point to join with other advocates and people of like mind and use the tools of the State, namely the judicial process, to challenge the political system. Nothing in the constitution protects us, the public, from politicians, as if we elected them to think for us. They have collectively weakened our society by setting poor examples of leadership.
Six aspects of the constitution require immediate review:
1) Ministers should be professionals selected from the appropriate field in which the ministry exists and in which they have demonstrated expertise.
2) No waiver to be allowed to any MP to do business with Government; their access to information gives them an unfair advantage over all others, and conflicts with their responsibility to safeguard the interest of the public that they are elected to serve, not profit from.
3) All ministers be removed from authority to determine outcomes relating to events occurring as a result of acts of Parliament or other legislation. This is the province of the judiciary to interpret the law.
4) The Senate is supposed to be a deliberative body, not a rubber stamp of the political party that selects them. Senators must be directly elected, a maximum of two per parish.
5) The prime minister must be directly elected by the people.
6) The election date must no longer be a tool of political whim to be used for political advantage by any political party.
I wish to advise any party elected through the upcoming election that these things represent elements inhibiting social, economic and cultural growth of Jamaica as a nation and need to be at the top of the agenda. I wish all the aspirants peace and safety in their endeavours, and hope that they will make themselves available to make these corrections in our governance in the coming five years.
Hugh M Dunbar
Architect
hmdenergy@gmail.com