The document discusses the recent general elections in Jamaica that resulted in a new government being formed with a slim majority. It analyzes the performance of the two major political parties, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Peoples National Party (PNP), during their terms from 2012 to 2016. While neither party deserved to be re-elected based on their failures, the people's selection of their leaders must be respected. However, it is now up to the newly elected government to properly understand and address the expectations of the electorate. There is a question of whether Jamaica would benefit from a coalition government made up of both parties or selecting the best members, but the political system may not be mature enough to effectively implement this. The

1. Our general elections are now behind us, and as a consequence, a new government
has been formed. In my opinion, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which now forms
the government, from 2012 to 2016 was ineffective and a failure. Were that party to
have been judged solely on its performance during that period, it certainly would
not deserve the victory and the mandate to govern Jamaica. Similarly, the Peoples
National Party (PNP), which served as the governing party for the same period
(2012-2016), appeared to work tirelessly to be booted from office. Its commendable
achievements with the economy and education were overshadowed by its failures in
national security, health, transparency, and demonstration of very poor leadership
from its head.
Therefore, neither of our two major political parties deserved to be elected.
However, my father, who was a politician at different stages in his life, both in his
victories and defeats and that of the party to which he belonged, held the very
strong belief that “the people always get it right” with the selection of their leaders,
and I would add that the people may have gotten it right, but it is those they have
elected who go on to get it all wrong or possibly misunderstand the expectations of
their electors.
We now have a government that must govern with a very slim majority. Is the
message from the electorate that Jamaica needs a coalition-type government, or as
others have proposed, a government made up of the best of the elected members of
both political parties?
As attractive a proposition as this may be, and one that could possibly address the
problem of the tribal political nature of our politics, we must ask whether our
politics are mature enough to make this work. Wouldn’t it create a somewhat one-
party government (made up of JLP and PNP members) and wither the opposition?
Who would then to stand up and protect the people from the awesome powers of
the government?
Whatever the outcome, it is hoped that, this time, the members elected to Gordon
House will not treat it as an elitist club, but a place of work for them to conduct the
business of their employers (we the people) with sincerity and transparency.