The Editor, Sir:

In recent times, senior officials in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have been signalling that the JLP will not support any further postponement of the local govern-ment elections. Recently, the Mayor of Kingston was heard on radio sending a strong warning to the Government to call the elections or else be prepared for social disorder and 'bangarang'.

It is my view that successive governments should demonstrate good leadership qualities and call both general and local government elections whenever they are constitutionally due.

However, as a concerned citizen, I am somewhat uncomfortable with the tone of Mr. McKenzie's threat of organising and leading social protests throughout the country to force the Government to call the local government elections.

Social disorder should not be the course of action taken by the Opposition in defending the constitutional rights of the Jamaican people who will in turn be the victims of violence and mayhem.

Conditional political participants should have the freedom to exercise their democratic rights in voting at the appropriate time stipulated by the constitution.

However, where this right is denied, it should not be defended by unconditional political participants who take joy in mounting roadblocks and causing mayhem and social upheaval in the name of 'defending the rights' of the Jamaican people.

I am, etc.,

RICARDO HALL

ricohallhotmail.com

Kingston