Vote for Jamaica

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Monday | September 3, 2007

Many years ago an entire family of my friends went home to vote in a general election. Everyone got all spiffily dressed but, as they approached the polling station, someone on the outside kindly informed them that "wi vote fi unuh aready!" I was not apathetic towards the affairs of my country, but incidents such these, along with unruly crowds, rabble-rousing, cheap theatrics to woo voters, keeping our inner-city residents dependent and exploited, intimidation, violence, corruption, transparent schemes and disingenuous promises on both sides of the political divide - made me feel that I would be sullying myself if I participated in the electoral process.

I remain convinced that party politics planted such an evil acrimonious seed in our midst that the resultant death and destruction of lives and communities wrought by it will continue to mutate from violence based on politics, to violence based on drugs and guns, to violence based on extortion, to violence based on competition for scarce resources and so on, for a very long time to come.

Vote out of fear or allegiance

I believe that most people vote out of fear, dieheard allegiance to one particular political party, in an effort to save their jobs (this pertains in several large organisations today) or for selfish reasons (the promise or expectation of personal gain). The mucky side of politics had such a profoundly negative effect on me that I gladly relinquished my right and duty to vote.

A few years ago, however, I became a committed voter because it occurred to me that (although voting was now protected against fraud), by not voting, I was allowing others (the non-thinkers, the political dependents and the selfish voters) to chart the course of Jamaica (to decide my future). It also dawned on me that, in our not-too-distant past, voting in Jamaica was only for the privileged minority. I began to feel as if I were disrespecting the efforts of those who fought for Universal Adult Suffrage and abrogating my civic responsibility.

Thanks to professor of history, University of the West Indies, Mona, Patrick Bryan, I am reminded that in the early and mid-1800s those with economic, social and political clout (merchants and planters) could vote and possibly win representation in the Old House of Assembly.

Constitution was changed

This included ex-slaves, many of whom were peasant proprietors. In 1884, the Jamaican constitution was changed. Under limited suffrage, males who paid parochial taxes of no less than £1 per annum or £1.10 per annum on taxable property (i.e. 7,443 electors in a population of 500,000) could vote. In late 1885, a decision was made to include householders who paid 10 shillings in direct taxes and male adults earning an annual salary of £50 or more.

Eventually, citizens 21 years old and over who constituted the wealthy and middle-class whites, middle-class browns, professional blacks and farmers owning between 50 to 100 acres could vote. By 1919, women were allowed to vote as long as they were over 25 years old, paying minimum taxes of 10 shillings per year and in receipt of an annual salary of £50 a year or more.

It was through dauntless efforts and agitation (especially by our National Heroes Alexander Bustamante and Norman Washington Manley) that we had a new Constitution (November 20, 1944). It, among other things, inaugurated limited self-government and Universal Adult Suffrage (a first for any British colony). Thirty-one per cent of the population showed their appreciation for Jamaica by voting on December 14, 1944. I wonder what percentage of us will vote for Jamaica today.