The Editor, Sir:

The voting trend of past elections indicates that there is usually a lower voter turnout for local government elections when compared to general elections.

One reason put forward for this is that there is the perception that local government elections are not as important as general elections. If this perception has any truth to it, I would want to say to persons holding that view that you could never be 'wronger'.

The councillor, by virtue of the fact that he/she has to live in the parish and have a vote in the parish, is usually far more visible than the MP. Many MPs on both sides of the political divide have given a new meaning to M.P.; some are really not Members of Parliament but, in fact, 'Missing Persons'.

Live among the people

The councillor and councillor-caretakers are the ones who are there (with the exception of a few) for their respective divisions. They live among the people and are in touch with their situations and concerns. I hasten to make the point that some of them are not just councillors but counsellors as well.

As it relates to low voter turnout for local government elections, I find it necessary to make the point that many persons who vote in general elections are not aware that they should vote in local government elections.

Having carried out my own survey (unscientific), I was surprised at the number of persons who were of the view that they were not the ones who elect councillors.

One smart young lady said she thought that it was the councillors/caretakers, along with the delegates, who would participate in these elections.

I wonder how many Jamaicans share that view. With local government elections due soon, I want to make it known to my fellow Jamaicans that all persons who are eligible to vote in general elections have the same right in local government elections. Go out and mark your 'X' for your parish council representative.

I am, etc.,

DAREN S. LARMOND

Optilearn1@yahoo.com