This democracy is not in peril. It continues to grow from strength to strength in its vibrant public dialogue, in its consistent change of government and in its execution of free and fair elections and the acceptance of the results coming from those elections.

But of course democracies such as ours ask us for self-reflection and continuous improvement. For a recognition that a better democracy is possible when we recognize and value the humanity of all Jamaicans, when we value women and young people. When we care for our children.

When we value the opinions and ideas of those who we are diametrically opposed to. When we protect the most vulnerable and respect their truth.

When we build solid institutions and give them the space to work to serve the largest number of persons. Democracies work because people make them work. An involved citizenry knows that the election of a new government is a call to organize to, to do more.

Our democracy becomes stronger when we do the work for it to be stronger. This is not a one off activity engaged in on election day. Governments will seek to govern, people will support their decision or not.

The value of a democracy is that when we feel that government might not be operating according to our wishes we use our voices, the media, we take to the streets, we use the courts. This is the essence of democracy, not a threat to democracy.

Democracy is not an event. Its not a one off activity. One election day result does not represent a threat to our democracy.