Election Day - 2011 in Jamaica

As people gather all clad in their various party colors of green or orange to vote on this, Jamaica's 2011 election day, the excitement continues to build. So far there is peace and we hope that this remains. I have heard few honks of the horn and whistles blowing as that will be reserved for the grand announcement of the winner; later some will celebrate their parties victory while others will mourn their loss.

To an outsider looking at the days events unfolding you can't help but feel like you are a part of an island wide sports day. People singing, dancing and cheering their team to victory. Guaranteed not many know what their party truly stands for, they simply vote for the party because their mother, father or grandparents used to vote for that party; "their team, is my team". It's like an inheritance.

In the past, election days have been feared due to the violence that ensues when a member of one of the two political parties, The People's National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), believes his/her party lost unjustly and thereby decides to take, sometimes violent, action out on any member of the opposing party.

It must be noted, however, that this type of ignorant behavior is normally seen in the inner cities where education is low and crime is high. In fact most of Jamaica's bad publicity is from the violence that occurs in these small and remote communities.

The air, at the moment is one of peace, as people come, vote and return to their place of employment without incident. Polling stations both Green (JLP) and Orange (PNP) are side by side, no fuss, no arguments, leaving hope for peaceful and uneventful day.

While speaking to two individuals today from opposing parties who were working at the polling stations, both related that they are "promoting a peaceful day and that there is high hope for just such a day even in the inner cities."

For visitors to this beautiful Island, it is just another day. The sun is shinning, the weather is perfect and tours are still running. All stores are open and it's business as usual.

I only hope that whoever takes power today of our little paradise will be able to lead our country in the right direction, educate the people and give them jobs. Hopefully they will not be just great speech makers, as has been the case in the past, and instead take action that is desperately needed.

May the tempers of our passionate people be low and the love for our country run deep.

As is said in our Anthem "To our leaders, great defenders, grant true wisdom from above, justice to be ours forever, Jamaica land we love!"