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| Mayor Joel Williams and Councillor Scean Barnswell |
For over thirty years, many of us have been calling for changes to the constitutions of Jamaica to create a more democratic society, and not much has happened. The current system is not democratic enough, and it is standing in the way of making Jamaica the greatest little country on earth.
Take, for example, this fight for who should be the Mayor of May Pen. If the people of Clarendon had the right to vote for their mayor, there would be no need for a fight for position. If we have another bi-election within three months, will we have a new major?
We need to have fixed election dates, and the people should be able to vote directly for a mayor. When a councillor dies, a by-election should be called within three months, unless a parochial election is within six months. The people of Portmore vote for their mayor directly. Why should some people be able to vote for their mayor while others can't? This is apartheid. This is discriminatory.
We blow hot air attacking the symptoms, and we end up running at the speed of Usain Bolt; on the spot. We love the hot air which helps to keep the political fire burning. We are being treated as fools as we continue to accept it because our navel string is buried at the root of a tree called PNP or JLP.
Massa God, come dung haffa yu throne and show the people a sign so they will learn, or else they will be swallowed up in the red sea of political, idiotic practices.
It will be interesting to see the enlighted responses to this post. If we don't fix things, then let us set up a boxing ring in the middle of May Pen for Mayor Joel Williams and Councillor Scean Barnswell to engage in a boxing match. The one who is knocked out loses!
Until the law is ammended to seh otherwise, the current mayor nuh haffi leave him post. It may sound unfair yes but is suh di law seh now, right? All parties should have been in the know of this. If the scenario was in the reverse would the PNP mayor vacate the seat? NO. Respect the law just like how yuh want regular spegular people fi respect the law. Set an example. If the law as is needs ammending guh advocate for its ammendment through the correct channels, too power hungry and willing to break law fi gain power. Cho.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. However, with all its problems, our democracy works better than most World democracies. All these important observations should have been formally presented to the Constitutional Reform Committee. This Committees Report has just been tabled in Parliament and will be debated. Hopefully Vernon and we the people will be able to make these crucial changes at that time. Selah. Stafford Haughton
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The engine of democracy in Jamaica is yet to start. It's very chaotic in many ways to say the least. This is why the phrase: "Jamaica is not a real place", is so commonly used in reference to the ridiculous and outrageous acts or events occurring here that could not have happened elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a mayor and a deputy major then the deputy mayor should be mayor until an election is due. Simple right? Apparently not. Also, there shouldn't be one law for the Portmore Municipality and another for the others. That's unlawful, it's one country.
The laws need amendment to include the automatic instatement of the deputy mayor if for whatever reason the elected mayor is unable to complete the term of service. Also, yes, the election dates should be fixed for local government elections as should the dates for general elections. For example: The general elections should be held the second week of March every five years while the local government elections should be held the last week of May every four years. Just an example.
When one has to wait on the leader of a country to decide on when and if an election is to be held, that cannot be democracy. No. It's more like autocracy.
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