Go out and vote!

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Friday | August 31, 2007

Dennie Quill, Contributor

Whatever your politics, if you are eligible, go out and vote on Monday. If the stage set by the security forces earlier this week is anything to go by, then we should expect a turnout in the region of 70 per cent or so. A low voter turnout is not good for democracy. The odds of your vote being the deciding factor are low, but why take the chance?

So, get out and make your choice in the way representative government allows - via the ballot box.

The truth is, both the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party have the solid support of some 40 per cent of the electorate, which means there is a critical 20 per cent out there often called 'uncommitted'.

This group includes the disillusioned, disinterested and fed up, but they are the ones who will decide who gets to celebrate on Monday night. Platform speeches and campaign ads have been trying to convince the uncommitted that each side is bad for Jamaica. Finger-pointing and name-calling have reached a crescendo in the final days of campaigning.

Examined life

Just like people, a country lives an examined life. Jamaica's examination takes place every five years. And it is now time for us to evaluate what has taken place over the past five years.

What has changed? Who has performed well? Who has abused the power entrusted to him or her? Who has been corrupt? What has not changed? What needs to be changed?

What changes are taking place around us in the wider world, and how do they impact our lives? All of these questions are going through the minds of the uncommitted at this very moment.

So, according to the campaign ads, the electorate is being asked to choose the lesser of two evils. There is significant difference in the style and substance of the two party leaders. And while each may select different paths to prosperity, they each want what's best for Jamaica.

Future historians will highlight the campaign for the 2007 polls as one of the longest in Jamaica's political history. Campaign fatigue has overtaken some of the party faithful and one can see them pulling on their last energies to get to the finish line on Monday.

You may not know it, but the first showing of colour television took place on September 3, 1940. The media owners are smiling all the way to the bank given the recent surge in political ad spending. The PR imperatives as always include converting political rivals into figures of fun and each party has been plugging its own greatness.

This time was no different. While some of the ads were cleverly crafted and quite amusing, others were crass, amateurish and dreary. For one friend, he has reached the stage where he feels like taking a hammer to his plasma set. He hates the bombardment and cannotwait for it all to end.

Revisit political ad rules

While we cherish the ideal of freedom of expression, I believe in future, the Broadcasting Commission needs to revisit the rules relating to political ads. For example, there should be a limit set for advertising during prime time. As well, there should be guidelines about ad content during regular programming and commercial breaks. Those who have the funds will attempt to hijack the political process by insistently drumming their message across, till it almost sounds like an endorsement by the media. Not only is the election being held on a Monday for the first time, something else that sets this election apart is the fact that the electorate will experience an upgraded election apparatus.

Hopefully, the super-confident Danville Walker will deliver a superb system which will eliminate or reduce voter errors, intimidation, bogus voting and party chicanery on election day. He did not inspire a whole lot of confidence in people on Wednesday when he, who has been beating the drum for a September 3 date in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean, disclosed that he had not been aware of the extent of damage to some of the island's polling stations. Hello? Surely the physical state of election stations and centres should have been considered before a date was decided.

Let's hope that things can be truly ready by Monday, for the backlash would be horrible. Students of history may recall that September 3, 1939, was when Britain and France declared war on Germany. Oh how the world has changed over these many years! On September 3, 2007, a new chapter in Jamaica's history will be written.

Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.