The words of the great Martin Luther King: “And so we shall have to do more than register and more than vote; we shall have to create leaders who embody virtues we can respect, who have moral and ethical principles we can applaud with enthusiasm.” The granting of adult suffrage in 1944 defined an epoch of pride in Jamaica.From that time, electorates chose their government — the system of people, laws, and officials that define and control the country that they live in — with high esteem. Today, however, this high esteem might be minimal or even non-existent in the youth populace of Jamaica.

Jamaican youth have no faith in their government because the political vehemence encourages violence, there are no major changes in the country’s economy after elections, and there is yet to be a leader who tends to the needs of the future. “From dem yeye deh a dem knee” youths have been witnessing that the political culture in Jamaica encourages violence.

Jamaica’s general election held on October 30, 1980 resulted in over 840 Jamaicans brutally murdered and, according to Dr Winston Davidson, “1980 was one of the wickedest elections”. Although this was 35 years ago, the same practice of politics — though not as extreme — is still evident in election seasons today.

The 2011 general was widely thought to have been our most peaceful election. But based on Jamaica’s political history, ‘most peaceful’ is relative.

That very year communities were under curfew, and children like myself were warned not to go on the road unless accompanied by an elder; and with such restrictions, it was considered ‘most peaceful’. Political violence might not affect the country on a national level, but it will definitely leave a dent in the communities.

Furthermore, if we remove the “die-hearted” scales from our eyes, we would clearly see that the political fiestas of our country result in more uproar than peace, more division than togetherness, more hunger than bellyful.

The political culture features our leaders showing themselves a few weeks prior to election, bearing glorious gifts and T-shirts. Since the announcement of the election, I personally have experienced an attempt at bribery already.

Some may argue that Jamaican youth are the future sheriffs to hold politicians accountable for their underperformance, hence restoring their own faith to vote.

But we live in the now. Michael Abrahams passionately stated that, “…we (have) abdicated our responsibilities… to choose who will govern our island.”

How, then, can we restore a culture that is broken beyond repair? In 2013, the Jamaica Employers’ Federation and Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica predicted that 20,000 graduates won’t get a job. Today’s statistics say the youth unemployment rate is 38 per cent against a national unemployment level of 13.2 per cent. All we have are promises from both sides.

The reality is the elected have developed a rotten habit of not fulfilling or not doing enough to accomplish their proposals. I recall being fascinated with Percival James Patterson and would literally cry tears whenever he was mimicked. Also in 2002, being just six years old, I cried fountains of tears to go to a political campaign held in the capital of my parish. With more enthusiasm than anyone, I caused my parent to force through the crowd until I was able to sit on the edge of the stage; nothing was more fulfilling.

Before you debate the ethics of a child at a rally, as a disclaimer it was about me as a child having much faith in our government.

Politics then was something of value to me but now, I am yet to even find a party worthy of my vote. Remember how our forefather Marcus Garvey fought for our right to vote?

What better time to call election than Black History Month, a decisive campaign strategy to pull on the work of our noble ancestors to lead us blindly back into what?

The same struggles as before the passing of adult suffrage? We, as a people, must bear some of the guilt for our country’s damage as we have allowed our votes to be devalued to $2,000 wrapped in a T-shirt.

We are yet to understand that within our votes lies that great change. But my eyes are tearful as I write, knowing that I cannot even find a reason to vote.

If the youth no longer have faith in the government then, in the long run, there will be no government!

Chenea Taffe a second-year student at the University of Technology, Jamaica, pursing a degree in communication arts and technology. Send comments to the Observer or @Chenea_Media.