SOUTH FLORIDA – Jamaica boasts about being an independent country for more than a half a century, and it still is a country run by politicians who do not display certain levels of maturity.
While it can be understood that if only because of time constraints, the independence constitution was more or less cobbled together, it would demand only a little maturity to seriously consider constitutional reform or at least amendments that would have real impact on the country and the lives of its people.
One of those changes of necessity is the naming of a specific date for the calling of elections. The vast majority of countries that claim democracy as their form of operations have a fixed date.
In the Jamaican situation as in much of the former English colonies in the Caribbean, the decision as to when an election is called rests solely with the Prime Minister.
How that plays itself out in Jamaica, is that in the majority of elections since the 1970s, elections have been called long before they were constitutionally due. And, sometimes it backfires against the governing political party of the day.
The saddest aspect of this refusal to name an exact election date is that an administration would still be able to do things to remain in office regardless; things like getting jobs done on time? Hopefully.
Voice your opinion on the “Open Line” with Winston Barnes daily on WAVS 1170AM or listen on-line http://wavs1170.com/
Photo Credit: Leroy “Dreamy” Riley
