Hilary Robertson-Hickling

Now that Jamaica and Jamaicans know the date of the election, it is incumbent on us all to conduct ourselves with discipline and to recognise that violence, intimidation and the other ugly aspects of our political culture will set us all back and demonstrate our lack of political maturity.

In a country like Jamaica, political parties have been important focal points over the last nearly 70 years, providing an identity, an ideology and patronage for many. In a country in which there is such a low level of participation in organisations in general, political parties, and churches play a very special role because of the opportunities that they provide. Marcus Garvey our first National Hero, demonstrated a deep understanding of the need to put our people in uniforms and create organisations for people to undertake the work of their own personal , national and international business and redemption.

Shortage of 'big ideas'

In this era, where there is a shortage of 'big ideas' and where the ideological divide has blurred into what some describe as the 'third way' in which capitalism and socialism or even communism become bedfellows in new ways, there is increasing difficulty in distinguishing the ideological differences between parties on the left or right, conservative or liberal.

In the Americas, there are so many movements on the seismic political landscape that there can be confusion, cynicism, apathy and other negatives in our political behaviour.

Today's political parties and their backers in the private sector and civic organisations must find new ideas and new people to demonstrate that a difference can be made by choosing one group over the other group. Failure to deliver on promises will likely lead to a speedy dismissal from office. The faithful core of the political parties will be overwhelmed by the undecided voters if the same old rhetoric is uttered. People can turn their dials to other news and information and engage in other activities.

In an environment of such low social capital, probity and other efforts have to be made to address corruption, violence, unemployment and the creation of a nation able to compete in the increasingly complex global world. At the same time, fewer and fewer have access to the desired metropolitan destinations in North America and the U.K., so people will have to find ways for more of us to co-exist here peacefully and prosperously. In addition, we will also have to find new opportunities for migration they too will be applying the same visa regimes and desiring our best behaved, and best- skilled citizens.

Need for experience

The CARICOM Single Market and Economy will not allow for the free movement of those who have not yet learned to dance at home and therefore will not be able to dance abroad. There are so many imperatives that face our political parties and the generation from which our Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition have come, i.e. the baby boomers, and those born at the time of Universal Adult Suffrage have one more chance to show us their motion.

We can only regain our confidence in our political and economic leader when they demonstrate maturity and competence in national and international affairs. Our eyes are on them and we need to ensure that the window of opportunity that we have now is wisely used.