‘Never voting again’ - Former diehard supporter says he’s done with politics

A mixture of orange and green flags decorate Laws Street and surrounding communities in Central Kingston yesterday, ahead of today's Nomination Day exercises for the upcoming local government election.

Supporters of both major political parties, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in their green, and the People's National Party (PNP), in orange, all greeted each other with respect as they prepare to support their political representatives as they are nominated. But standing on the sidewalk and taking in the excitement was a Rastafarian who gave his name as McKoy, who said that his days of dipping his finger in the ink is over. Speaking with THE STAR, he said that he does not see the value in politics.

"Mi use to vote long time man for PNP but mi nuh see any changes from both side, so I decide not to ever vote again. I don't see how my community change. Mi nuh really see any development from dem time to now so it doesn't make any sense," he said.

Laws Street falls under the Rae Town division of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, which is currently led by the JLP's Rosalie Hamilton. The PNP candidate is Dane Lynch. The division is in the Kingston Central constituency; the member of parliament is the JLP's Donovan Williams.

McKoy, who said that he once was a diehard member of the PNP, opined that Central Kingston needs a facelift.

"The place want to build up more. The infrastructure is poor. A lot of attention is needed in these parts, for example, we need better street lights. Sometimes a night yuh a walk and the lights dem get dark and pale, and mi nuh see any move a make to change them. More opportunities is needed for the youths and so on. Mi born here suh and mi no see any changes, so a dem ting deh make mi realise say the politics ting nuh make sense," McKoy said.

He said that although he has left politics alone, he will always have a special respect for late Prime Minister Michael Manley, who once represented the constituency.

"Is PNP mi grow up with, but it was Michael Manley era was my era, and it nah go anywhere from that. It is dismal to me. The only good thing about this is that no one no business if you want vote or not. No one is going to pree me for that because no one nah go know if you vote or not unless you tell them," he said.