Parties and their supporters must obey the laws

Monday, November 28, 2011

A photograph appearing in this newspaper on Friday labelled ‘Daryl’s Van’ captures the “enthusiasm” of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters who attended last Sunday’s annual conference of that party.

Unfortunately, the photograph — which shows JLP supporters in the open rear of a twin-cab vehicle emblazoned with the likeness of Cabinet minister and West Portland MP Mr Daryl Vaz — also captures the disorder and indiscipline which haunt political campaigning in this country.

The picture shows at least one person, a woman, seated on the unprotected cab of the vehicle facing backwards, others sitting on the unprotected frame of the vehicle and others standing. No doubt all those passengers were having one whale of a time. But as we understand it, they, along with the driver, were operating in clear breach of the laws governing road use in Jamaica and also, it would seem, without regard for their personal safety.

Of course, such sights at election time in Jamaica have become par for the course down the years. It is our understanding that despite pledges by the leadership of the JLP and talk of a “zero-tolerance” approach by the police, evidence of body protrusion, speeding and other forms of indiscipline were commonplace on the roads as Labourites came and went on the latest conference day.

We are aware that there was at least one serious road accident, involving a vehicle overturning, as party supporters went home. We can’t speak to the circumstances but would be unsurprised to discover that indiscipline was the root cause.

That supporters of both major political parties are endangering themselves with unruly conduct on our roads is bad enough. But they are also endangering others. Any motorist on normal business, who has ever been caught up in any of these political motorcades — official and unofficial — will recognise the terrifying truth of which we speak.

Sadly, in many cases, political leaders at national and local level are often themselves part of these motorcades and ‘caravans’ witnessing the law-breaking first-hand without doing anything about it. Hypocrites that so many of them are, these same politicians will often take holier-than-thou attitudes as they speak on the need to bring order to the society.

We recognise that the situation is very difficult for our under-resourced, understaffed and overworked police. For in some circumstances they run the risk of inciting anger among the “massive” of party supporters should they act on the spot to deal with lawbreaking. But the police must act by whatever means feasible to impress on our two main political parties and their supporters that the laws of the land must be obeyed.

We are aware that there are those who will be suggesting that such behaviour complained about here forms part of the “political culture” and cannot be easily done away with. However, — up to not so long ago — thuggery, intimidation and downright thievery were also considered part of the “culture” in Jamaican elections.

That situation has been transformed to the stage where we are now hearing from the watchdog group Citizens Action For Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) that in the foreseeable future their services may no longer even be needed.

This newspaper has had reason to point out the tremendous strides the nation has made in electoral reform and transformation. It seems to us that the society needs to focus on this business of disorder on the roads at election time as one more difficulty in the mix that must be fixed. The politicians and the political parties will respond to public pressure. Such is their nature.

We believe that the media have a big role to play. The stories, the pictures which capture such disorder must be published and aired. It’s one sure way to ensure that the zero tolerance to such behaviour which we all should crave as responsible citizens is eventually achieved.

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Parties and their supporters must obey the laws