Jamaica held its 15th general election since independence on September 3, 2025. The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was rewarded with a third consecutive term in office, winning 35 seats to the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) 28 seats. The opposition has announced its intention to seek final decision in the courts due to improprieties identified in some constituencies across the island. So, we will see how that all plays out in the days and months ahead. At any rate, the PNP was the real winner here, as it added 14 seats to increase its numbers in the House of Representatives as against the JLP losing 14.
The real concern I have is that since 1962, politicians have made politics so toxic and unattractive that 61% of eligible voters refuse to participate in the recent polls. To me, this is the sad outcome of the September 3 election. How we restore interest among the population should be our #1 priority going forward. The democracy depends on it!!
With every recent election cycle not just in Jamaica but even in the USA, it pains my heart to see the low level of turnout at the polls, especially among the descendants of Africans. In Jamaica, 61% didn’t think it was important to vote in the 2025 election; 63% in the election before in 2020. Do these people realise the pain and torture their African foreparents went through fighting for freedom and access to the polls? So many even lost their lives! And now we take it for granted. I really believe that Jamaica should immediately cancel the commemoration of Emancipation and independence days from our national calendar. I grieve for all those Africans who were dragged across the Atlantic against their will and died fighting for a life we now so glibly take for granted. To arrive at a place where a vote can be bought and sold to the highest corrupt bidder is totally unacceptable in any serious democracy. Information coming from several constituencies across Jamaica since the election suggest that this behaviour was rampant.
GOING FORWARD:
- There is urgent need for restructuring of the Electoral Advisory Commission and the Electoral Advisory Board. Every attempt to rid it of all political operatives must be made with urgency. It should be an independent body.
- Jamaican politics has fast become a family business. There needs to be strict guidelines for succession at the representative levels based on qualification. When last I checked, family relationship was not a qualification.
- There needs to be clear job descriptions for the political leadership of the country. We require and demand this in businesses so why should the largest business in the country be exempt?
- With proper job descriptions we are then able to make better decisions regarding candidate selections. Can this individual deliver based on their background, temperament and life preparation?
- Republic status or not, it’s time for the government to enshrine fixed election dates in our calendar.
- The reckless act of removing Civics as a compulsory subject in our schools must be immediately reversed. Additionally, our children must be taught our real history. Democracy, unlike any other system of governance demands an informed, intelligent and involved population. Government has a critical responsibility to ensure and foster those qualities.
- Sadly, Jamaica has always thrived on the “Anansy mentality”. It’s the guy or girl who can outsmart the rest who gets to wear the crown. No political party has ever beat the other at the polls based on campaigning against corruption. Unfortunately for us, that has just never proven to be disqualifying. This is sad, really sad!
The future of this country belongs to the young. They must step up and be heard and given an opportunity to shine. As I stated in a previous article, it will take significant vision to get this nation out of the complicated places it has landed. We are talking about the economy, state of crime and criminality, the poor health system, substandard education approaches that rewards regurgitation rather than stimulate the creative minds, high levels of public corruption, low levels of agricultural production, poor public transportation systems, increasing poverty levels and importantly, a rather apathetic populace who find it a chore to even go out and vote! Not to mention some who see the vote as a small business opportunity. The #1 question to ask ourselves in this critical post-election season is, do the men and women who have now been elected for public office, have what it takes to take us successfully into 2030?
