For some time now I have been considering how change can occur in the system of governance that we have been struggling with since we were introduced to universal adult suffrage in 1944.

With minimal changes, the Westminster style has fashioned our thinking to the point where we do not see how it has sabotaged our progress as a nation.

Good newspapers

I do believe that Jamaica is blessed to have at least two relatively good newspapers, as informative as any I have read elsewhere. There are excellent columnists and contributors and, over the years, letters have revealed members of the public who are willing to identify themselves with their observations.

Yet, I wonder whether our politicians pay any attention to the content of these articles. How would we be able to conclude that they do?

On the other hand, there are those within the society with pulpits from which the spoken word is presented. In the main, politicians dominate this medium, before, during and after elections.

Divisive attitude

Given the attitude of the two political parties, their deliveries are invariably divisive, underlining their determination to persuade the society that the nation's progress rests upon their respective party and nowhere else.

For over half a century, we have not been able to design a system to allow for the opinions of the vast majority of Jamaicans to influence the narrow opinions of a small number of practising politicians.

If we assume that too many of us do not, or cannot, read the newspapers, then we are doomed to be at the mercy of partisan politics that only contemplates one kind of change - that of party.

We must find a system that includes, rather than excludes, the masses.

I am, etc.,

ALLAN ALBERGA

allanalberga@aol.com