Dear Editor,

It should be abundantly clear to all well-thinking Jamaicans that the current political order, dominated by the PNP and the JLP, is busted and is incapable of delivering good governance and economic development.

The admission last week by Prime Minister Golding that he sanctioned the scheme to lobby the American Government in relation to the extradition matter concerning Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, has confirmed what many have posited, that Jamaica’s two major political parties are more interested in protecting their political interests rather than the interests of the country.

The integrity and the legitimacy of the political order is at an all-time low as neither of the two political tribes have the moral authority to address critical national concerns of crime, corruption and garrison politics.

It is time for the citizens to arise and demand fundamental changes. I am calling on all well-thinking Jamaicans to indicate to both political parties that enough is enough. Civic organisations, the private sector, trade unions, the security forces, the business sector, the Diaspora, the church, community organisations, student organisations, the media, sports and entertainment fraternities, and all other stakeholders should form a coalition to demand the changes we need.

This demand should be supported by organised, peaceful civil action. The goal of Jamaica’s ‘velvet revolution’ should include the establishment of a national socio-economic action plan, the reformation of the Jamaican constitution and political structure, the decrease of crime and violence, the transformation of the garrisons and the establishment of an interim unity government.

The present political order cannot fulfil the vision of Jamaica becoming “the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”. We must emancipate ourselves from this political slavery.

Orville Plummer

oaplummer@yahoo.com