#JAVOTES2024 | Rastafarians encouraged to vote

Members of the Rastafarian community are being encouraged to participate in the local government election.

Delroy Johnson, a Rastafarian, and teacher, who was in line to vote at the Porus Infant School in Manchester, told The Gleaner that it is important for all members of society to participate in the democratic process.

"If you don't participate then you leave some people who may be undesirable in terms of their motives to choose for you," he said.

The Porus Division is being contested by Jamaica Labour Party incumbent, Claudia Morant-Baker,

Peta Gaye Blake Campbell for the People's National Party and independent candidate Muriel Beverley Swaby.

Johnson shared that he was voting for the PNP.

"Anybody weh seh dem a rasta and nuh support di PNP dem fi go trim because the PNP give Rastas the most [rights]," he said.

According to him, this local government election is a "trial run" for the upcoming general elections.

"We have to come out and make sure we get the ball running from now, so when it come general [election] time a di same process," he said.

"We want to give Mark [Golding] a chance because Mark has business acumen and other things that can transfer and mek him into a better leader for Jamaica," he said.

However, another voter who requested anonymity said his vote was going to the political party that presented the best policy.

"Mi always look pon di issues and policies dem and decide on which one more conducive to mi, and who look like dem have more sense and dem sinting deh, mi nuh deh like, 'hey mek mi follow dis colour colour'", he said.

He too is urging more Jamaicans to come out and vote.

"If you have some people a set rules and set laws and set the thing dem weh wi fi do, we must go inna wi seof and pick out di ting dem weh wi tink seh aguh benefit we and benefit the future of Jamaica, so you haffi mek sure seh you participate," he said.

However, another voter in line was not coy about his voting intentions.

"Mi just wah vote out Andrew," he said.

Morant-Baker won the Porus Division in 2016 with 1,273 votes. 

Then PNP candidate, Swaby, polled 1,006 votes.

- Sashana Small

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