Staff Writer - Kerran Monroe
Say it ain’t so Andrew! Sorry, I mean, say it isn’t so Prime Minister Holness. Election is right after Christmas and just before the New Year?! I seriously have to rant about this. What were you thinking Mr. Prime Minister? How can you call elections so late in December? This is the period when most people are in the middle of their Christmas celebrations and do not want to be disturbed. I thought you said you would not disturb our Christmas but that is exactly what you are doing Sir. Yes Christmas is on the 25th of December but Jamaicans start celebrating Christmas from Christmas Eve straight back to about January 3rd. Some even begin earlier than that.
If you did not want to disturb our Christmas Sir, you should have waited until January or you should have called the elections during your honeymoon period. Yes I know these things take great planning and a lot of thinking have to go into this process and various factors have to be taken into consideration but were the majority of the Jamaican people and our entertainment calendar not factors taken into consideration? It seems not.
I feel mostly for the promoters of Sting as they may be the ones mostly affected where entertainment is concerned. Of course persons will be extra careful since Sting is the night of the 26th going into the morning of the 27th. This means that, two days after Sting has ended, will be Election Day, and yes this is not the 70s and 80s but people will still be scared to venture out to parties a few days before elections, especially with what took place in Spanish Town on Thursday, the 8thof December. People are already linking this shooting incident to politics.
Election at Christmas...I'm well vex!
Persons are already complaining that the election date will definitely affect their Christmas celebrations and that they certainly will not have as much fun as they had planned on. Even though most of us are broke we had still planned on enjoying ourselves, at least for the holidays, but for a lot of persons that plan has been spoilt. But of course for party maniacs like me, we will be partying… nonetheless.
However, to all my fellow Jamaicans, I say to you, go out and vote, despite the election. Listen to the issues and base your votes on them. Watch the debates, listen to the manifestos, be a part of the process. Do not just sit back and say, ‘Andrew and Portia or PNP and JLP naa do nutt’n fi di country’. If you do not care for any party, then vote for the candidate that you think can best represent your constituency. Do no sit back and let the process pass you by. Your vote is your voice, let it be heard.
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