Delroy Chuck

The Jamaican people have been treated with such utter contempt. They are referred to by the Most Honourable Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, as "my children", even while they are discarded, despised and disrespected. However, come elections they are told how much they are loved. Amazingly, with a few promises and minimal material handouts, many readily fall in line. Dishonourable politicians treat the people with contempt because, with little murmur, the people ultimately accept and swallow whatever is delivered.

We know the election is near. Money is pouring into every corner as the Government attempts to deliver a fleeting feel-good atmosphere for the general elections. National Works Agency that has been starved of resources for years is now ready to roll, busily paying its outstanding indebtedness and eager to incur new ones. Roads are being hastily and poorly repaired. Gullies are being cleaned and fixed. Contracts are being awarded to all and sundry and, once again, it is time to "run wid it". Will our people once again succumb to this disgraceful and contemptuous practice of spending wildly to win another election? We saw it done in the North East St. Ann by-election and the wise people there rejected the PNP con job, but it worked for the 2002 general election.

Save our country

The decent, honest and thinking people of Jamaica need to save our country from these despicable politicians who only care for the people at election time. Where are the voices of the church, the media, the business community and the professional organisations to urge the people to reject those representatives - and they exist in both parties - who come around only at election time? It is absolutely disgraceful that in many communities the people have not seen their party representatives for years but because they are comrades or labourites they vote their party preferences. Politicians, many of them sitting MPs, have been missing for years but are now in their constituencies handing out money, big breed goats, chickens, housing benefits, and parading around like Santa Claus. If our people can be so easily bought then, perhaps, they deserve the hardship and the suffering they have to endure, and have endured for so long?

Socially engineered

For the PNP, the people can be socially engineered and made to believe anything, even that the Almighty selected the Prime Minister and her constituency representatives. No wonder; it is important for the PNP to win the battle of prophecies, polls and propaganda, to further foster the herd effect that if you are winning others will come along, and those against you will stay home. Well, the Jamaican people must consider whether they can continue to be treated with such contempt? As a proponent of free speech, I have no problem with the the publishing prophecies, polls and propaganda, but our people need to wake up and dismiss them with the contempt they so rightfully deserve. In truth, how many of the current pollsters got it right in recent elections? Mark Wignall called it correctly in the 2001 NE St. Ann by-election but, like the other pollsters, was way off mark in the 2002 general election.

Tony Myers, for example, who now writes for the Sunday Herald, making useless and worthless predictions. In The Gleaner of June 18, 2003, Comrade Tony Myers predicted for the 2003 Local Government Elections: "In summary, the final result could, therefore, be PNP 11 parish councils and the KSAC, JLP two ... As I have often said, the greatest friend of truth is time." Well, Tony, the exact opposite of your summary occurred and truth was certainly not your friend, yet you continue to predict and write nonsense! Isn't it time we have a good laugh at these pollsters?