Free speech is an immutable right that the Government cannot take away from the citizenry. Free media and social media of this day provides a means to do a necessary check on Government; social media not only makes abuses of governmental powers less likely, it also enhances the likelihood that basic social needs will be met.

There is, in democratic societies, a basic right to be informed about what the government is doing and why. Knowledge is power. Secrecy gives those in government exclusive control over certain areas of knowledge, and thereby increases their power, making it more difficult for the people to check that power.

Access to information is necessary for a democratic society to work effectively; without access to information, its ability to perform its central role is eviscerated. This period when we elect those who allocate the country’s resources and make critical decisions on the citizenry’s behalf has been dubbed the silly season by the cynics. The pundits believe that there is no one or nothing in the process to motivate them to exercise their right to vote. The unfortunate reality is those who are most apathetic towards the process are the young professionals of the country. They say they are looking for a reason to believe, a reason to believe that the political process can change lives and can make a difference.

Most of those who sit on the fence do so because they do not know — they are deprived of the knowledge that will give them power. The use of social media by some politicians have increased the citizen’s power, connecting them to information that gives them a better vantage point to access their officials.

As is customary, the election season has yielded several interesting slogans and entertaining bantering between vying parties. The Jamaica Labour Party is promising prosperity, while the People’s National Party commits to continued progress. The cloud of secrecy hovers over this campaign as questions are hurled to uncover sources of funding. Several bloggers express that these realities have compounded their resolve to stay away from the process. Why the secrecy? They want access! What Prosperity? They want the evidence. Where is the progress? Show them your achievements.

I invite those who have been searching for that reason to journey with me to St Ann, in the north-western section of the parish where, for just a little over four years, a young professional like yourself has served as the parliamentary representative with distinction. Dr Dayton Campbell, the Member of Parliament for St Ann North Western, unites some of the most effective qualities and employs them to deliver qualitatively distinct service to the people of the constituency on behalf of the People’s National Party. His service is documented on his social media accounts, so all information can be corroborated by all who seek to know. He has a long list of achievements to show that he is leading his constituents along the path to prosperity, and he says his tenure is about “progress, not perfection; he’s heading in the right direction”.

Dr Dayton Campbell, a medical doctor who recently completed a law degree, was born in Bamboo in the very constituency he represents, and who he is today is a product of the political party for which he serves as a standard-bearer.

Dr Campbell has taken a journey from poverty to prosperity in his life, and at every crossroads along that journey, he was rescued by the policies of the PNP that steered him in the direction that led to academic achievement, economic independence, and professional accomplishment. It is therefore not by chance that Dayton Campbell is a member of the PNP but because of the change the PNP afforded him, and it is not because of power why he chooses to be a politician, but to empower as he has been empowered. He has, in turn, used his chance to serve to give his constituency the opportunity to realise their full potential as a prosperous citizen of Jamaica.

As the standard-bearer of the PNP, which has embedded in its core philosophy the principles of participatory democracy and equality of opportunity, Dr Campbell began his tenure with extensive consultations with SDC and the communities through community meetings at churches and schools. These consultations were aimed at examining the problems of the people. The problems that these consultations unearthed were complex, but Dr Campbell’s resolve was that practical solutions could remedy the concerns. His focus areas were infrastructure, health, education, employment and youth/outreach activities. His aim has been to move the people of St Ann North Western from poverty to prosperity.

Today the communities and citizens of St Ann North Western are on the path to prosperity based on the programmes initiated by their member of parliament over the last four years. The extensive amount of road repairs done to over 30 roads in the constituency grants access to services such as health, education, agricultural extension and provision of information. Most of the journeys made by rural poor are for subsistence tasks. For them, access to local facilities and primary transport network is critical in times of need.

The solution put in place to help to give citizens water at their homes, like the distribution of over 450 black tanks, repairs done to parish tanks, and representation made to fix wells, are indicators of the desire to help people out of their condition of poverty. The construction of basic schools, community centres and housing projects are also steps geared toward giving constituents a solid footing on the path to prosperity.

Dr Campbell has advocated for and was able to grant some communities electricity through the Rural Electrification Programme. Some constituents were assisted with accessing their land titles. All these achievements are critical to lead people from poverty to prosperity. However, it is Dr Campbell’s work in the category of health care delivery and education that makes him most distinct.

The journey to prosperity would be stalled if adequate attention was not invested in addressing the citizens’ health. Dr Campbell, being a medical doctor, took keen interest in improving the health of his constituents, so much so that he donated his time, professional training and expertise to give all citizens access to quality health care.

He operated, with the assistance of other medical volunteers, a free mobile clinic, medication samples were distributed and NHF and JADEP forms were completed at the clinic. Over the four years he has given over 5,000 back-to-school medicals. When the country was plagued by chikungunya, the MP did house-to-house visits distributing over 20,000 packets of Panadol to ailing constituents.

Children should grow up in conditions that maximise their opportunities for success; adults should have opportunities throughout their lives to connect to work, get more education, live in a good neighbourhood, and move up in the workforce.

Dr Campbell, from early in his life, determined that our nation’s lower economic mobility is at least partly attributable to educational disparities. The true socialist observes that the secrets of greater social mobility are, first, tough redistribution policies that particularly benefit those at the bottom; and a more flexible and less stratified education system, running from top to bottom. Education can be a great leveller. Yet, Dr Campbell is all too aware that often the poorest children and workers in Jamaica have the fewest educational opportunities. That is why high-quality, universally accessible education -from early childhood through post-secondary – is essential to increasing opportunity and mobility.

As member of parliament, Dr Campbell has focused on building strong, interconnected communities where families can thrive is central to opportunity and mobility while journeying to prosperity.

Dr Campbell has set up, in St Ann North Western, a very comprehensive educational programme which has seen to the building of basic schools, the funding of GSAT support classes, CXC classes, Adult Night School, and skills training.

This candidate is one who has embraced new media and used it to empower the public with information, who has embraced his power and used it to empower his constituents and lift them out of poverty and give them a real chance atprosperity.

rachelleighthompson@gmail.com