THE EDITOR, Sir:YOU carried a very interesting piece entitled "Crisis awaits next Government" in The Sunday Gleaner dated February 17, 2002. In this article, Bruce Golding, the former president of the National Democratic Movement, disclosed that after the next election tough decisions will have to be made and ways will have to be found to mobilise the people.
I can still clearly remember when in 1996 Mr. Golding, then president of the National Democratic Movement, issued verbal invitations to both the Prime Minister, and the Opposition Leader to walk with him through various garrison communities as a symbol of unity. His invitation fell on deaf ears. Today, such a walk is needed more than ever. Today I would like all politicians to genuinely suspend their differences and do whatever is necessary to make places like Arnett Gardens and Tivoli Gardens good places for Jamaicans to enjoy life as respectable neighbours and as friends.
We need to pull ourselves from the power-hungry mud-slinging type of politics to one where real issues are discussed. Over the years we have practised a kind of politics where we choose to ignore each other's workable ideas and instead question each other's motives. Jamaica's major political parties are far too untrusting of each other.
We need a new approach to politics and governance. We need harmony to replace the discordant voices and compromise to replace the conflict. During and after this election I would like to see our politicians presenting Jamaica (not only to our children but potential investors as well) as a place that is united, at peace and on a route to being fiscally sound. Irrespective of how difficult it may be.
Here are just a few of the initiatives that the four political parties could take to ensure that we have a peaceful election this year:
Encourage your supporters to wear neutral colours and not to dress as targets for sick-minded individuals to attack them.
Share one platform for most political meetings for the first couple of weeks during your campaign.
Dump the party songs - open all meetings with the national pledge and close with the National Anthem.
We have learned from our mistakes so ignore the errors over the past 10, 20 and 30 years and campaign on exactly where we are now and where we should expect to be on a year by year basis over the next five years should you be elected. Stick to real issues, and place workable solutions on the table.
Powerful Fortune 500 investors are out there watching us but no one is going to rush into a country that is torn apart during and after an election. Today, most Jamaicans are fascinated with material things; we are no longer interested in finding creative solutions to our own problems. We no longer appreciate the nobility of work and sacrifice. Jamaica has real financial problems to tackle. Our main trading partner, the United States of America, is still in recession.
Today, more than ever we need to harness all unused talents to secure a future for our children. This is a remarkable opportunity for us to show our children and the rest of the world that we can solve our problems by starting with the man in the mirror.
I am, etc.,
BRUCE JOHNSON
#152 Holruth Court
5-7 Ruthven Road
Kingston 10
