OCTOBER 1980: Opposition Leader Edward Seaga being wildly greeted by a section of the huge crowd at a JLP election rally at South Parade, in downtown Kingston, in 1980.

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Edward Seaga's column 'Will fraud and violence be resisted', in The Sunday Gleaner, September 2, was very insightful. However, I wish to take issue with Mr. Seaga on what he describes as the 'rah-rah' aspects of our political campaigns.

Mr. Seaga defends theseaspects of our politics on the basis that they generate excitement and lead to higher voter turnouts. Without the "entertainment and competitiveness", he concludes, voter turnout will fall to 50 per cent and "this would be detrimental to the democratic system".

With the greatest respect to Mr. Seaga, his statement stems from the misconception that democracy is just about voting every five years. I believe it is much more than that. I believe it is really about people taking responsibility for their country and holding their government accountable every single day of the five-year term.

The fact is there is little difference between the major political parties in Jamaica and this is the case in most countries. In mature democracies, where elections tend to be about issues rather than personalities and 'rah- rah', the turnouts are, in fact, lower, because many voters are simply not excited about the minor differences that separate the parties.

These democracies are healthy because of how the people interact with the Government that is formed. When there are major issues in the election, the turnout will be high, as it was when Mr. Seaga himself obtained the largest victory in Jamaica's history in 1980.

'Rah-rah' distracts the population from the serious business of being responsible for their country. We vote according to whether Portia (Simpson Miller) or Bruce (Golding) puts on the better festivity, and then we abandon our country to them over the next five years. It will make little difference whether the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) or the People's National Party (PNP) forms the government after this election. What matters is how we the people interact with that Government over the next five years.

If we keep them under constant surveillance and hold them accountable through the press and other institutions, then our democracy will be strong.

If we let them do as they please while we wait for the next 'rah-rah' festival in five years time, then our democracy will be a sham.

I am, etc.,

HUGH P. SMYTHE

hsmythe@tstt.net.tt

10 Schooner Court

Westmoorings

Trinidad and Tobago