THE EDITOR, Sir:
FOR MANY years now I have been vocal through this medium about the need for those of us who live overseas to have a say, through suffrage, in the way our country is run. We are as Jamaican as anyone else and as a block, make a significant contribution to the economy of the country. It seems only fair to me that we, who help to pay the piper, also help to call the tune.
I therefore welcome the discussions about the need to understand the non-resident Jamaican community (or Diaspora as we've been dramatically titled) and to give ear to our views on how to improve the country.
Personally, I am willing to vote for the political party who in deed, not word, champions the cause of facilitating foreign-based Jamaican voting in general elections. Surely there is some method already in place for Foreign Affairs workers to do so: the same could be widened to the rest of us. Now this may seem like a frivolous way to make a political decision. However, this is no more frivolous than votes for curried goat or 'black man time now' or more, not voting at all.
I believe that this will make a significant difference in the attitude towards politics and campaigning and ultimately to good governance. I look forward to less discussion on this topic and more action to make it a reality.
I am etc.
BRUCE McKNIGHT
bruce_mcknight
hotmail.com
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Via Go-Jamaica
