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Jamaicans waiting to cast their votes in local elections.
Basil Waite, Contributor
JAMAICANS AT home and overseas are pondering the prospect of extending the voting franchise to those brothers and sisters of the diaspora who choose to parade their talents on other shores. To vote or not to vote: that is the question.
Anticipating the fancy political footworks and machinations that will no doubt arise, the proposition begs the question, is the opportunity to vote a right or a privilege?
I contend that the franchise is a right, not a privilege, which comes with conditions. In this respect, it is not unlike the requirements of any citizen to pay taxes, obey laws and contribute, based on ability, to the prosperity and well-being of the nation. Citizenship therefore, extends to the individual the right to exercise his or her franchise.
Others have argued that the most prominent condition that a citizen should satisfy, in order to be able to exercise the franchise, is residence in the country where they want to vote. Hence, it could not be justified to extend to Jamaicans overseas the right to elect local parliamentary and parish council representatives. Should the latter view prevail, then it would be a dark day for Jamaica.
One could also argue that you vote for a parliamentarian or councillor to represent your interest and, in the case of Jamaicans in the 'fifteenth parish' and 'fourth county', there are no interests to be represented. It could further be argued that these Jamaicans, because of their sheer numbers and potential power, would be able to determine, as a community, the outcome of any national or local elections.
The facts are clear: Jamaicans overseas number approximately 2.5 million, almost the same as the number living in Jamaica. I would suggest that, consistent with established trends in the United States, Mexico and New Zealand, less than ten per cent of this overseas population would choose to exercise this franchise. So there should be a collective sigh of relief from those who are uncomfortable with the thought of their constituency majority being wiped out by some group of strangers in whom they have no interest anyway or disappointment for those who were becoming excited by the thought of manipulating this opportunity to overthrow the garrisons.
REMITTANCES
We do our brothers and sisters a disservice. No one would want to disagree that overseas Jamaicans do have considerable interest in their country and one can only look to the millions that they contribute to the economy through remittances to their families back home. What if we were able to fully mobilise the interest, commitment and wealth of this community? Undoubtedly, the possibilities are endless.
It is my contention therefore, that despite the misgivings that opponents or doubters of the wisdom of this proposition may have, the economic and social benefits to be derived far supersede any other consideration. In Jamaica, we have a way of deferring difficult decisions indefinitely. In the meantime, Rome burns and the opportunities are lost.
CRUCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Today, Jamaica is facing crucial development and economic issues. While international funding is redirected to the Middle East and South East Asia to fight terror, we need to find ways of raising capital and expertise, not just from other countries but also from Jamaicans overseas.
I therefore salute senators Trevor Munroe and Delano Franklyn for the enthusiasm they have thrown behind this initiative. I have absolutely no doubt that political maturity will prevail to the extent that this 'exotic' proposal, to quote Derrick Smith, can be debated and fast-tracked.
No doubt, persons will want to place restrictions and develop complicated criteria for overseas Jamaicans to exercise this franchise. I say absolutely, it cannot be a free for all. Not with the expenses involved or the logistical nightmares that will have to be overcome. But obstacles have never prevented us as Jamaicans to do what is right for the country. I can see persons suggesting that these Jamaicans should pay a poll tax or even meet a remittance threshold.
Such suggestions could only be classified as being utterly obtuse at best, and similar to strategies employed by colonial governments to deny the majority of our people the right to vote at worst. The return to the use of wealth or status to determine the right to vote must never be a consequence of this most noble ideal.
This debate however cannot be held in isolation. Now is the time to address other imperfections in our political system and develop a new paradigm as we move forward. We need a set date for elections. We need term limits, which the Most Honourable Prime Minister and the Honourable Horace Dalley, to my certain knowledge are not averse to. We need campaign finance reform and state-funding for national campaigns. These issues are critical. They have serious implications for any extension of the voting franchise to overseas Jamaicans.
SET ELECTION DATES
Set election dates will be necessary to properly and efficiently administer this process. The state would no doubt want to guard against the careless exercise of this franchise by persons ignorant as to the content of the respective manifestos. Political parties would have to be funded so they can properly educate these groups.
We have a responsibility to protect the state from potential corruption by the donation of special interest money and therefore the process demands a slate of rules for campaign finance and the declaration of funding sources.
This is not a new issue, but it is a live one. And it is not a straightforward issue there will have to be compromise. But the facts are clear: the pros will far outweigh the cons. This is an opportunity for the Government, the Opposition, the private sector, civil society and the media to seriously contemplate these issues and turn a new page in the history of a Jamaica, proud of its people all over the world.
The PNP certainly has an affinity for watershed legislations. This is no different. I have every confidence in them. We extended the franchise on December 14, 1944 with our first elections under universal adult suffrage.
I look forward to the next elections when we extend the feeling, the franchise and the fulfilment to Jamaicans around the world. What a feeling! Whatever the outcome, the attempt to extend our national space and penetrate our economy with the wealth and talent of others in the diaspora would be well worth it.
Basil Waite, former President of the PNP Youth Organisation, is a graduate student at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He may be contacted at basil_waite@ksg
