Readers write ...

They feel used and betrayed. Some are bitter! They are tired of the same ol' same ol'. They constitute that segment of the electorate who say they are not voting. They also include the undecided on the political fence. We asked them to write in and tell us why they will not vote and for the undecided to say what will make them vote.
Readers write ...

I will spoil the ballot!

I have been voting for the same party in this country for over 40 years and I will be doing so again next election. But this time will be different.

This time, I will be voting for any third party or independent candidate who turns up on my ballot. Should none appear, I will dutifully spoil the ballot in a perhaps insignificant but emotionally satisfying attempt to register my disappointment with the two major political parties which have failed us grievously in the pursuit of self-interest and winning at all costs.

It will be my way of protesting the insincerity, greed, appetite for corruption, one-upmanship and 'tek-people-fi-fool' syndrome which have characterised governance in this country for as long as I can remember, but much more so over the last 30 years.

Time to call a halt.

- Non-Tribalist

I will vote if ...

It is made mandatory for MPs to live in their constituencies (after all, the MP is for the people).

A law is passed where contract overruns are the responsibility of the contractor.

A law is passed restricting low-income earners from having more than two children.

Education becomes the nation's number-one priority.

Teachers' pay is tied to performance; likewise police officers.

An alternative is found to the Jamaica Public Service 'monsterpoly'.

- Marcus Blackstock

I will not vote!

It is my personal conviction that both parties are only motivated by self-aggrandisement and not the development of the country, which has been languishing behind nearly every Caribbean country. Party politics has brought minimal development and will continue to erode what little shred of dignity we have left.

- Jermaine Young

None is worthy!

Both major political parties - the People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party - have done more harm to retard the development of this nation than any other single event for the past 49 years.

Both parties have put the interests of their party and friends ahead of the interest of the country at large.

Both parties have aided and encouraged the divisive nature of the society with garrison-style politics, among other destructive policies.

- Wayne Campbell