Letter of the Day | Political parties should exhibit higher standards
Published:Monday | August 11, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The verbal is discourse on full public display emanating from the political platforms of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) by their respective candidates. They are vying to win their seats in the upcoming general election and many times this discourse is, more often than not, obnoxious, distasteful, disrespectful and downright petty.
Equally bad is the removal and/or defacing of campaign posters showing the faces of candidates from both major political parties. These acts are undemocratic, tribalistic, politically backward, immature, and petty. The leaders and candidates from both parties must express in no uncertain terms zero tolerance for such acts.
The worst element of this general election campaign season is the sharp, strong and unrelenting disunity that exists between the two leaders Andrew Holness and Mark Golding. This disunity is unnecessary and sets a bad example to respective JLP and PNP candidates and supporters and fuels tribalism, bad blood and, at times, violence.
The standard of political campaigns in Jamaica needs to be lifted significantly and metaphorically from the gully to the mountain top. Then and only then will politicians from both major camps genuinely gain the respect of the educated classes of the population across the island.
PATRICK GALLIMORE