Jamaican Researcher

Politicising Web 2.0 in Jamaica–Reviewing JLP's Site

I got the idea for this blog article subsequent to visiting http://onejamaica.blogspot.com/ As I read I was filled with goose bumps at the thought that the JLP is integrating web 2.0 technology into party governance. Wow! I said, breaking immediately into meditation about the possibilities for my small island developing state (SIDS) to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through greater efforts of our leaders to log-on to cutting edge Internet technology, which prioritises interactivity and communications as the backbone of participatory governance.

Call me an Obamacan if you desire, but I am wholly sold on web 2.0 in politics. It centralises discourse and peoples’ voices in the decision-making process. I started a cause (http://apps.new.facebook.com/causes/103179) and a group (http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19821032898) on Facebook and believe me the interactivity it affords me with people who care about the same things as I and the opportunities that it provides for Jamaicans and people around the world to support my advocacy initiatives are marvelous. I can’t wait for the day when I am able to link my Member of Parliament or Prime Minister personally, through their Facebook profile and utilise an up-to-the-mark web 2.0 platform.

The JLP launched their web 2.0 platform less than a month ago, but I am here to report that it is still a display-centric platform, more like web 1.0–there is no actual link to a Facebook profile, page, cause, group, etc. just the logo; the myspace link is dead; flickr loaded, but where are the tags, slide shows, and animations to stimulate commentary? There is no actual link to Gallery2. The YouTube link is live though!

Kodak bigged-up the JLP for its new web 2.0 platform, but I say, “Kodak, while I share your enthusiasm for an Obama type of politik, I am not so sure the JLP is there yet. They demonstrate, through the layout of the site, a good plan for politicising web 2.0 in Jamaica, and I applaud them for that effort, but they are just not there yet. Where is the chatroom? Come on guys! A comment is not the same a blog, blogs take research, time, thought, and effort. Maybe its a micro-blog, but it doesn’t borrow from the twitter model! It seems like commentary to me.

Can someone please dedicate some time to this site and make it truly web 2.0 compatible, otherwise leave it to the professionals. Check out the JLP’s site… http://www.jamaicalabourparty.com/