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Reckless contradictions overtaking and infesting the Government
Christopher Burns
Monday, December 10, 2007
IT was Abraham Lincoln who said, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." The recently installed Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party government had to withstand 18 long years of political adversity in opposition. Its members now find themselves struggling to preserve their characters, because of the inability of a few of them to distinguish between political power, the enormous responsibility that comes with that power, and the proper use of ministerial authority.
It must not escape our attention that the JLP marketed itself to the electorate as the party without internal turpitudes. If we apply the Lincoln test to some of the persons behind much of the errant nonsense that have been coming out of this administration, there would be little doubt as to the texture of the real characters we now have to deal with - many of whom have since taken off their fake breastplates of political righteousness and are showing off their chest plates of contempt and spite.
The JLP came to power promising, among other things, to uphold the principles of fundamental fairness, responsible behaviour, transparency, and to advance anti-corruption.
Yet, by the actions and utterances of some senior JLP government officials, the Golding-led administration is being overtaken and infested by reckless termites of contradictions, from "tap to battam" as the late Sir Alexander Bustamante would have said. This is particularly sad, because many of the ameliorative proposals put forward by the prime minister could go far in eliminating some of the causal factors behind such problems as corruption and political victimisation - the across-the-board constituency development fund comes readily to mind.
As we navigate through the waves of promises, let's first examine the issue of fundamental fairness. The principle of fundamental fairness eschews the utterances of the likes of junior ministers Robert Montague and Everald Warmington and the actions of Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne, as she piloted the ministerial order to allow the Dutch authorities to come to Jamaica to investigate bribery. Most staunchly, it turns its back on the kind of defence proffered by House Speaker Delroy Chuck in defending the indefensible utterances of Everald Warmington.
Fundamental fairness inherently avoids the kind of behaviour recently exhibited by Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne. More than anyone else, Ms Lightbourne ought to know that, "He who would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
Attempting to impugn the integrity of someone you are unwilling to work with by using parliamentary protection to question, unreasonably and without cause, the soundness of that individual's expert opinion - sufficient to cause unfavourable impressions to be formed of that person - is churlish and ranks of political malevolence.
In the interest of fairness and wisdom, Delroy Chuck should have recused himself from the matter concerning Warmington; instead of attempting to defend his rather fetid verbal dalliance with political victimisation, bordering on corruption. I was taken aback by Speaker Chuck's arguments, especially as it became progressively obvious that he was inebriated by the exuberance of his own verbosity. I now know why he was deliberately left out of the Cabinet and given the speaker's wig instead.
In terms of responsible behaviour, the new administration has been trying to hold the centre together, even as things are falling apart. The last thing it wants is to be submersed in reckless behaviour or irresponsible utterances. So when the prime minister, who has extensive knowledge of Jamaica's socio-political culture, encourages party faithfuls to tease PNP supporters by pretending to be picking out termites out of their brains, he is setting the social context for violence and strife.
Some may say this was an innocuous gesture on the part of Mr Golding and that we need to grow up. That's fine for them to say. However, the reality in Jamaica is that teasing, as a practice, sometimes turns ugly or deadly. As the frog sensibly warns, "What is joke to you is death to me." If we can kill one another over simple things like the colour of a shirt, a game of dominoes, or even a chicken leg, then the prime minister's instructions must be condemned for what it was: a reckless gesture. I hope no one follows his stupid instructions.
More than any other issue, the commitment to anti-corruption and transparency featured prominently in the JLP's campaign. Consequently, any departure from this would mark the most egregious contradiction, which is why I am very perturbed by the comments from both Robert Montague and Everald Warmington. You may recall that when Verna Parchment crossed the floor she was hauled over the coals by her former colleagues for speaking out against an alleged culture within the JLP of political victimisation against PNP supporters. This happened even as the JLP was in opposition. Were there any truths to Ms Parchment's declaration of JLP-sanctioned political victimisation?
You may also recall Bruce Golding's vociferous condemnation of former state minister Richard Azan for allegedly distributing scarce benefits and spoils to his PNP constituents without the commensurate distribution to JLP supporters. Because Montague's and Warmington's utterances are diametrically opposed to government policy, they cannot continue in their substantive posts as ministers. Coercing voters to go against their conscience by threatening to withhold entitlement is disgraceful.
This is even more critical given recent claims against Montague accusing him of unfair distribution of the $150 million allotted to local government for road maintenance. In one instance, a JLP councillor in the Petersfield Division of the Westmoreland Parish Council received $2.5 million, while the former PNP councillor and mayor of Savanna-la-Mar received a total of $390,000. Montague might have played a lead role in Bruce's ascension to the leadership of the JLP, but Mr Golding owes it to the people of Jamaica to tell Montague and Warmington to move to the backbenches of Parliament.
Burnscg@aol.com
Christopher Burns
Monday, December 10, 2007
IT was Abraham Lincoln who said, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." The recently installed Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party government had to withstand 18 long years of political adversity in opposition. Its members now find themselves struggling to preserve their characters, because of the inability of a few of them to distinguish between political power, the enormous responsibility that comes with that power, and the proper use of ministerial authority.
It must not escape our attention that the JLP marketed itself to the electorate as the party without internal turpitudes. If we apply the Lincoln test to some of the persons behind much of the errant nonsense that have been coming out of this administration, there would be little doubt as to the texture of the real characters we now have to deal with - many of whom have since taken off their fake breastplates of political righteousness and are showing off their chest plates of contempt and spite.
The JLP came to power promising, among other things, to uphold the principles of fundamental fairness, responsible behaviour, transparency, and to advance anti-corruption.
Yet, by the actions and utterances of some senior JLP government officials, the Golding-led administration is being overtaken and infested by reckless termites of contradictions, from "tap to battam" as the late Sir Alexander Bustamante would have said. This is particularly sad, because many of the ameliorative proposals put forward by the prime minister could go far in eliminating some of the causal factors behind such problems as corruption and political victimisation - the across-the-board constituency development fund comes readily to mind.
As we navigate through the waves of promises, let's first examine the issue of fundamental fairness. The principle of fundamental fairness eschews the utterances of the likes of junior ministers Robert Montague and Everald Warmington and the actions of Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne, as she piloted the ministerial order to allow the Dutch authorities to come to Jamaica to investigate bribery. Most staunchly, it turns its back on the kind of defence proffered by House Speaker Delroy Chuck in defending the indefensible utterances of Everald Warmington.
Fundamental fairness inherently avoids the kind of behaviour recently exhibited by Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne. More than anyone else, Ms Lightbourne ought to know that, "He who would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
Attempting to impugn the integrity of someone you are unwilling to work with by using parliamentary protection to question, unreasonably and without cause, the soundness of that individual's expert opinion - sufficient to cause unfavourable impressions to be formed of that person - is churlish and ranks of political malevolence.
In the interest of fairness and wisdom, Delroy Chuck should have recused himself from the matter concerning Warmington; instead of attempting to defend his rather fetid verbal dalliance with political victimisation, bordering on corruption. I was taken aback by Speaker Chuck's arguments, especially as it became progressively obvious that he was inebriated by the exuberance of his own verbosity. I now know why he was deliberately left out of the Cabinet and given the speaker's wig instead.
In terms of responsible behaviour, the new administration has been trying to hold the centre together, even as things are falling apart. The last thing it wants is to be submersed in reckless behaviour or irresponsible utterances. So when the prime minister, who has extensive knowledge of Jamaica's socio-political culture, encourages party faithfuls to tease PNP supporters by pretending to be picking out termites out of their brains, he is setting the social context for violence and strife.
Some may say this was an innocuous gesture on the part of Mr Golding and that we need to grow up. That's fine for them to say. However, the reality in Jamaica is that teasing, as a practice, sometimes turns ugly or deadly. As the frog sensibly warns, "What is joke to you is death to me." If we can kill one another over simple things like the colour of a shirt, a game of dominoes, or even a chicken leg, then the prime minister's instructions must be condemned for what it was: a reckless gesture. I hope no one follows his stupid instructions.
More than any other issue, the commitment to anti-corruption and transparency featured prominently in the JLP's campaign. Consequently, any departure from this would mark the most egregious contradiction, which is why I am very perturbed by the comments from both Robert Montague and Everald Warmington. You may recall that when Verna Parchment crossed the floor she was hauled over the coals by her former colleagues for speaking out against an alleged culture within the JLP of political victimisation against PNP supporters. This happened even as the JLP was in opposition. Were there any truths to Ms Parchment's declaration of JLP-sanctioned political victimisation?
You may also recall Bruce Golding's vociferous condemnation of former state minister Richard Azan for allegedly distributing scarce benefits and spoils to his PNP constituents without the commensurate distribution to JLP supporters. Because Montague's and Warmington's utterances are diametrically opposed to government policy, they cannot continue in their substantive posts as ministers. Coercing voters to go against their conscience by threatening to withhold entitlement is disgraceful.
This is even more critical given recent claims against Montague accusing him of unfair distribution of the $150 million allotted to local government for road maintenance. In one instance, a JLP councillor in the Petersfield Division of the Westmoreland Parish Council received $2.5 million, while the former PNP councillor and mayor of Savanna-la-Mar received a total of $390,000. Montague might have played a lead role in Bruce's ascension to the leadership of the JLP, but Mr Golding owes it to the people of Jamaica to tell Montague and Warmington to move to the backbenches of Parliament.
Burnscg@aol.com
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