Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Tamian Beckford (right), president of the National Secondary Students' Council, is in a heated discussion with Simone Steele (left), a student of Northern Caribbean University (NCU). In the background are Kaydia Wright, student of the University of Technology and Leon Ferguson, a student of NCU. Occasion was a Gleaner Editors' Forum convened to discuss youth issues, held yesterday at the newspaper's North Street, central Kingston head offices. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

Some young Jamaicans are vowing to stay away from the upcoming polls until the major political parties clearly articulate the way forward for the country.

"Give me a vision! Tell me how! Let me know what my role is supposed to be!" Sriya Smalling, a student at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) said yesterday at a Gleaner Editors' Forum, held at the company's North Street head offices in central Kingston.

"Better yet, let me tell you what I think I can contribute to the process. I do not hear the hows coming out, not from the People's National Party, not from the Jamaica Labour Party," the 26-year-old, who has taken the decision not to vote, said.

Clear outline

Ms. Smalling said the political parties needed to clearly outline how the many promises that have been made are going to be implemented.

"The PNP has failed to govern and the JLP has failed to oppose ,so I can't choose," she told The Gleaner, following the forum.

In her remarks, Simone Steele, another student of NCU, said some young persons were turned off from voting because most of the issues put forward by the political parties did not pique their interest.

"I think we need to engage them (young people), to let them know that they play a very important role because many young people believe that voting is for big people. We need to let our voices be heard and that we can play an important role in the governance of our country and the direction our country is heading towards," she said.

For his part, Valdimir Wallace, president of the University of Technology Students' Union, said the political parties should, target the undecided voters.

"After 18 years, they don't really have much to show. I represent the undecided, so I should be shown care and given a lot of attention," he said.

A poll conducted by Bill Johnson and his team of researchers in May found that while youth 18-24 years old make up close to 21 per cent of the population from 18 to 74 years old in Jamaica, they only comprise 12 per cent of registered voters.

And of this number, only 39 per cent say they are likely to vote in the general election.

However, not all young people are staying away from the polls.

Kemesha Kelly, president-elect of the National Secondary Students' Council (NSSC) said young people should not sit down and refuse to exercise their franchise.

Miss Kelly who turned 18 recently was not able to enumerate and as such does not have a vote.

"Had I been 18 before I would vote. I believe that it is my responsibility to not just listen to their flamboyant campaign and the fancy phrases or the good or bad choice of music. It is my responsibility to listen to the issues and ask questions. I cannot just sit and say I haven't heard anything. I need to go and find out," she told the forum.

Miss Kelly added: "I don't think I should sit and not vote and then complain about everything. It is part of me participating in governance. If we are to 'fullticipate' we have to participate and voting is that part," she said.

And Tamian Beckford, president of the NSSC said it was foolhardy to decide not to vote, because it is a democratic right which citizens did not enjoy years ago.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com