THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE VIGOROUS electioneering over, now is the time for the winning party to take the lead in bringing healing to the nation, by encouraging all parties to work together for the common good.
Now is the time to put away the virulent brand of politics that has brought disruption, division, the destruction of our communities, and poverty among our people.
Now is the time to stop seeing the other party and its members as enemies to be killed or eradicated, and start seeing that we are all fellow-citizens; that the country belongs to all of us, and that the government is there as servants and not masters of the people.
Now is the time to stop pretending that garrison constituencies, donmanship, gunmanship, and criminal activities all come 'from the other side,' and to acknowledge that all are guilty. For far too long we have entertained this cancer in the body politic, and we are being destroyed from the inside. Now is the time to clearly and finally repudiate these elements as being inimical to nation-building.
Now is the time to repair and restore the several communities which have been reduced to war zones by tribalistic politics, by assisting and encouraging the residents to live and work and play together for their economic, educational, social and spiritual development as brothers and sisters together.
Now is the time to realise that the winning party is not the sole repository of wisdom and experience in governing the country, and they should draw upon the resources of the opposition team and all citizens of goodwill to help build the nation.
Now is the time to stop tearing down everything that the previous Government or the Opposition did, as if they did nothing good; and, despite the mistakes they made, to honestly acknowledge their contributions to the country. Why abandon or belittle projects started by a previous government because you did not start them? This would be backward, and a waste of the country's resources.
Now is the time to stop playing politics with maintaining roads, water, housing, and infrastructural development, and provide all citizens with the facilities they deserve and for which they pay taxes - whether they voted for you or not.
Now is the time to pay heed to the needs and the cries of the poor and the disadvantaged, and to treat them with respect, so as to instil in them hope, instead of the anger, frustration, and sense of injustice which engender violence.
Now is the time for leaders to stop tearing down, vilifying, and scandalising each other, and instead, acknowledging each other's roles, inspire mutual respect, civic pride, and a spirit of patriotism, which is sorely lacking.
In short, now is the time to usher in a new day for Jamaica, and for all Jamaicans, here and abroad, so that this beautiful country, so richly endowed with human and natural resources, may flourish in an atmosphere of peace and love and unity, while helping and caring for each other in true brotherhood and friendship.
Now is the time!
I am, etc.,
SAMUEL A. FITZ-HENLEY
P.O. Box 799
Kingston 8
