Garth Rattray | Politicians, heed the silent majority

Congratulations to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on winning the 2025 general election and securing their third [straight] term in office. Congratulations to the People’s National Party (PNP) on rallying from a political party in leadership disarray and dysfunction with only 14 Parliamentary seats to increasing their representation to 28 seats (up to September 6). This is no small feat. Despite not winning, the PNP should be proud.

I figured that the JLP would win this election, so it came as no surprise. As I pointed out in a recent column, the incumbent has the advantage. Once it took charge of the government, after winning the February 2016 general election, there was a flurry of projects and businesslike stewardship of most ministries. And, fairly recently, there was another flurry of projects, and well-publicised, high-profile appearances to ensure that the public saw and heard what the [JLP] government was getting done. The JLP also benefitted from government announcements and broadcasts that were, de facto, free advertising for the political party.

Although the JLP prevailed, the issues that may have contributed to how close the race became are – Dr Holness’ clinging problems with the Integrity Commission and the apparent intent to neuter that body. Ongoing and unaddressed inefficiency and corruption in various government agencies also left many citizens feeling helpless and fed up.

The timing of the announcement of doubling of the minimum wage over the next five years reeked of desperation. The [subsequent] release of a statement from the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission (which did not go into details and only kept to the generalities of their mission) appeared to be an afterthought request by the government meant to justify the sudden intent to increase the minimum wage to such a degree.

LAYOFFS

Employers don’t have enough reserve funds to absorb such a rapid increase in salaries. There will be layoffs because they cannot generate the income needed to pay that hike in the minimum wage. Although Jamaica is doing well macro-economically (a May 2025 World Bank report on Jamaica was glowing) we are not doing well micro-economically. That much-vaunted ‘prosperity’ is not widespread. Most businesspeople are struggling just to remain afloat, so unemployment will increase, and there will be spiralling inflation as a direct result of that level of minimum wage.

Other [negative] factors include the humongous salary increase that Parliamentarians gave themselves. Those increases revealed the massive disparity in wages between some administrators and the regular workers. It also made most people realise that others are actually earning less than they are worth but are unable to attract that sort of remuneration without severely and negatively impacting the economy. In other words, others are holding strain for the overall good of our country.

Because both major political parties have so many negative things in common, and are ideologically the same, many people really don’t know which way to vote… hence the low voter turnout. Only 39.5 per cent of eligible voters went to the polls. In 2020, that 37.9 per cent was blamed on the active COVID-19 pandemic; this time there is no excuse. The silent majority is shouting their disapproval, but our leaders are refusing to listen and calling it ‘voter apathy’ instead.

DONE WITH VOTING

On election day, I spoke with one such former grassroots political activist and was surprised when he told me that he was done with voting. “In 1972, mi used to fling bottle and stone fi politics, an dem nevah give mi nutt’n. Some people do more dan dat and all ah dem ah live pon capture land. Politics neveh help none a dem.”

He felt used by politicians and went on to express his opinion of both political parties. “When I was in school and get maths wrong, di teacha mark mi book wid a x. Now dem want mi fi mark mi choice wid a x. But den again, wi cyaan give dem tickie ‘caus none a dem right.” When it comes to politics, many Jamaicans are disappointed. But despite this, some of us voted.

In any democracy, citizens vote for a variety of things. They vote for things that resonate with them, either on a personal level or on a national level. Despite his plethora of flaws, and total lack of statesman-like behaviour, Donald Trump prevailed in the 2024 American election simply because he prioritised the things that resonated with the populace – the economy and illegal immigration.

Our situation in Jamaica sees a cohort of electorates that have been acculturated into depending on their caretakers (politicians) to provide for their basic, everyday needs. Their benefactors are not in the habit of providing the means by which the grass root voters can realise beneficial long-term goals. The day-to-day assistance keeps them beholding and in a servitude role.

Some citizens vote in political elections to have an influence on the governance of their country by choosing their representatives and their leaders. They vote for the policies that align with their personal views of the economy, healthcare, education, and social policies. Some vote in the hope that there will be accountability. If elected officials fail in their duties, the electorate use their votes to punish them. An indeterminate number vote simply because it is their civic duty to participate in the democratic process. Some vote for change and reform by voting out incumbents.

Until the glaring problems with ineptitude, corruption, and unaccountability are resolved, only a minority will go to the polls to select our leaders.

Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice, and author of ‘The Long and Short of Thick and Thin’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.