Dear Editor,

As the dust settles over the JLP leadership race, I find myself in a most peculiar position. Theoretically, I absolutely respect the position of the delegates and believe that it is imperative that the party leader be given free rein to craft his vision.

However, from an emotional perspective, I feel as though I am going through some kind of withdrawal. I have had the chance to sit and listen to Audley Shaw on numerous occasions, duelling inflections of passion and pain clearly evident in his tonel and I must admit that I became inebriated with hope and the crash today is real.

I may sound extremely naïve and petulant at the same time, but I did believe we needed to begin to build a more unified, loving society, as a matter of priority, and I was so looking forward to the Jamaica that would come from the standardisation of our infant schools over the medium to short term.

I was proud of the fact that an institution that was so dear to my heart would be championing this cause. I fell in love with the illusion that this could have very well been our “Arab Spring” moment, and I am now forced to re-evaluate the relevance of a world view that has defined my existence to date. Forgive me, and other supporters such as myself, if we do require some time to recalibrate and shake the feeling of being political and in effect ideological orphans.

We must be allowed the space to determine the kinds of sacrifices that we are willing to make going forward. Personally, the question of whether to devote a part of me to the JLP cause, as opposed to stepping aside completely to allow for individuals whose personalities and character more closely align with the vision of the majority to take up the mantle, will occupy my thoughts for a while to come. I am seized of the fact that this may be deemed a cop-out and a demonstration of bad sportsmanship. However, while a number of positions are currently in flux, what is absolutely true is that my intellectual credibility is always going to be more important than your perception of my actions.

As we wait to see the kind of tone and structure that the leadership of the party will take, it is my fervent hope that all of the pent-up vitriol and hate that was on constant display over the last two months will have been expended. I hope the party leader learns the right lessons from this process as he will have extremely huge shoes to fill, in my mind at least, going forward.

Whether there will, or ought to be room in the JLP for individuals such as myself is left to be seen. However, one thing is very clear, interesting days are definitely ahead for the party and the country.

Nicordia Vickers

niekababes@yahoo.com