Dear Editor,
Jamaica, land we love, is filled with ecstasy, anxiety and great expectancy as the country anticipates the general election on Thursday, February 25, 2016.
I remember my first real exposure to a general election; it was September 3, 2007 — I was too young to recall the previous ones. I was excited at the possibility of seeing a new government in Gordon House. But the excitement stopped there.
One would think that officially becoming an adult, I would jump for the opportunity to vote. Well, I have not. Why you may enquire. I did not want to be labelled a “shower” or a “power”. These, unlike what we were taught in school, are the primary colours in Jamaica.
As a child, I observed the political hegemony and partisan politics that separated the most powerful and promising resource that Jamaica possesses — its beautiful people. As a child, I too wanted to be associated with a political colour and hand gesture. But now, the child is gone and the adult is here.
And I am not the only one. The 1980s and 1990s children have become Jamaica’s present adults. The childlike innocence has passed and the real issues stare us in the face as we plan for our future and that of our country’s. And as one of the many youth in their 20s, I am appalled by the political stereotype and labelling that separate a country which has as its motto “Out of many, One People”.
The colour of my skin is the only colour I will wear forever. I am not green or orange. I am a Jamaican youth. This 21st-century generation should not take lightly the political freedom of expression that we celebrate in this country. Not only is it a right; it is also a great responsibility. We are not responsible for the political choices of our parents and grandparents. Instead, we are responsible for our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. How we shape and determine that future is directly linked to our voting on Thursday, February 25, 2016.
The time has come for us to change the way we select our political leaders. For, if we continue to vote on colour, all we will have are political leaders; not transformational leaders, not men and women who have Jamaica’s interest at heart.
Let us be a generation that votes on issues, performance and a civic responsibility to see our nation, our country, our Jamaica move forward. With our generation, no member of parliament, no councillor, no mayor, no prime minister should ever consider having a “safe seat”. Why? This generation of intellectuals, academics and rational youth will exercise its franchise on the basis of empowering Jamaica so that our country can shower blessings on us.
Who is this generation? We are Jamaican flip-floppers. We flip on any political aspirant who dears to take for granted the power given to him/her by the people, and we flop them at the polls. My fellow young people, let us change how we vote. Jamaica’s primary colours are no longer green and orange. The real Jamaican colours are reinstated; they are black, green and gold. Vote responsibly.
Popsann Lambert-Francis
popsann@hotmail.com
Jamaica, land we love, is filled with ecstasy, anxiety and great expectancy as the country anticipates the general election on Thursday, February 25, 2016.
I remember my first real exposure to a general election; it was September 3, 2007 — I was too young to recall the previous ones. I was excited at the possibility of seeing a new government in Gordon House. But the excitement stopped there.
One would think that officially becoming an adult, I would jump for the opportunity to vote. Well, I have not. Why you may enquire. I did not want to be labelled a “shower” or a “power”. These, unlike what we were taught in school, are the primary colours in Jamaica.
As a child, I observed the political hegemony and partisan politics that separated the most powerful and promising resource that Jamaica possesses — its beautiful people. As a child, I too wanted to be associated with a political colour and hand gesture. But now, the child is gone and the adult is here.
And I am not the only one. The 1980s and 1990s children have become Jamaica’s present adults. The childlike innocence has passed and the real issues stare us in the face as we plan for our future and that of our country’s. And as one of the many youth in their 20s, I am appalled by the political stereotype and labelling that separate a country which has as its motto “Out of many, One People”.
The colour of my skin is the only colour I will wear forever. I am not green or orange. I am a Jamaican youth. This 21st-century generation should not take lightly the political freedom of expression that we celebrate in this country. Not only is it a right; it is also a great responsibility. We are not responsible for the political choices of our parents and grandparents. Instead, we are responsible for our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. How we shape and determine that future is directly linked to our voting on Thursday, February 25, 2016.
The time has come for us to change the way we select our political leaders. For, if we continue to vote on colour, all we will have are political leaders; not transformational leaders, not men and women who have Jamaica’s interest at heart.
Let us be a generation that votes on issues, performance and a civic responsibility to see our nation, our country, our Jamaica move forward. With our generation, no member of parliament, no councillor, no mayor, no prime minister should ever consider having a “safe seat”. Why? This generation of intellectuals, academics and rational youth will exercise its franchise on the basis of empowering Jamaica so that our country can shower blessings on us.
Who is this generation? We are Jamaican flip-floppers. We flip on any political aspirant who dears to take for granted the power given to him/her by the people, and we flop them at the polls. My fellow young people, let us change how we vote. Jamaica’s primary colours are no longer green and orange. The real Jamaican colours are reinstated; they are black, green and gold. Vote responsibly.
Popsann Lambert-Francis
popsann@hotmail.com