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Changing course
published: Wednesday | December 12, 2007
During the recent general elections the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) campaigned on a slogan that they were changing course away from an old style of politics. The election results showed that many Jamaicans want a change of course. The closeness also shows that for many Jamaicans the old style is quite fine, thank you very much!
But don't ever think that all those who voted JLP want a change of course, and all those who voted People's National Party (PNP) want to keep the garrisons and the dons and the corruption and the distribution of scarce benefits and spoils solely to the party faithful. There are many JLP steeped in the old politics, and many good-hearted PNP stalwarts.
The furore caused by the exuberant but disgraceful platform speeches by two JLP Ministers of State is clear indication of several things. The old politics is alive and well within the JLP. Only two have been caught on tape, but there are many others lurking in the shadows. Public outcry alone will not lead to public apology, nor to resignation, as these politicians do not respect civil society. When CAFFE called on him to resign, Minister Warmington is reported to have replied that CAFFE did not hire him, so they could not fire him. So much for being servants of the people! These ministers will not apologise voluntarily; apologies will be demanded at the party level, and will come. They serve the party, not the people.
Apology
The trouble is that what was deep inside was put into words. We can expect more circumspect words in the future, but we can also expect what was deep inside to be put into concrete action. The apology can try to take back the words, but will the thoughts still be there? And will they lead to action?
Those that jumped to defend their party colleagues further betray the good health of the old politics within the JLP. They should be subject to the same party discipline as the perpetrators, as by supporting slackness they are just as guilty of it. The only way progress is going to be made is if the party faithful become protective of the change of course, and exert pressure on those who slip into the old ways. I expect to hear JLP stalwarts condemning the utterances.
MERE HYPOCRISY
The righteous indignation of the PNP hacks at the JLP blunders, after silence at similar PNP gaffes, is mere hypocrisy. When before the 2003 local government elections Prime Minister Patterson warned that if people did not vote for the PNP they would "suck salt through a wooden spoon" there was no hue and cry. The PNP silence over the Cuban light bulb scandal and the PNP's unwillingness to allow in Dutch investigators to investigate possible bribery and influence peddling do not match the PNP howls over the JLP threats to misuse their power.
The willingness of the JLP government to welcome the Dutch detectives and their unwillingness to accept the PNP apologies for exuberance do not match their rush to accept the apologies of their JLP colleagues and the unwillingness to investigate whether their intemperate campaign statements are a breach of the law. Is the JLP prepared to prosecute one of their own for breaking the law? That will be the acid test of their seriousness about bringing an end to corruption and the old politics.
Those Jamaicans who voted for change in the last election will quickly withdraw their support in the face of the very slackness they are running away from. The JLP must be under no illusion; they must never believe that all those who voted for them in September wish to be called Labourites. The JLP won because they gained the votes of many non-partisan Jamaicans who wanted a change of course. Their margin of victory is too slim to alienate the moral minority that put them there.
Prime Minister Golding has to walk a thin line to keep his slim majority support inside and outside of the House of Representatives.
Peter Espeut is a sociologist and is executive director of an environment and development NGO.
published: Wednesday | December 12, 2007
During the recent general elections the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) campaigned on a slogan that they were changing course away from an old style of politics. The election results showed that many Jamaicans want a change of course. The closeness also shows that for many Jamaicans the old style is quite fine, thank you very much!
But don't ever think that all those who voted JLP want a change of course, and all those who voted People's National Party (PNP) want to keep the garrisons and the dons and the corruption and the distribution of scarce benefits and spoils solely to the party faithful. There are many JLP steeped in the old politics, and many good-hearted PNP stalwarts.
The furore caused by the exuberant but disgraceful platform speeches by two JLP Ministers of State is clear indication of several things. The old politics is alive and well within the JLP. Only two have been caught on tape, but there are many others lurking in the shadows. Public outcry alone will not lead to public apology, nor to resignation, as these politicians do not respect civil society. When CAFFE called on him to resign, Minister Warmington is reported to have replied that CAFFE did not hire him, so they could not fire him. So much for being servants of the people! These ministers will not apologise voluntarily; apologies will be demanded at the party level, and will come. They serve the party, not the people.
Apology
The trouble is that what was deep inside was put into words. We can expect more circumspect words in the future, but we can also expect what was deep inside to be put into concrete action. The apology can try to take back the words, but will the thoughts still be there? And will they lead to action?
Those that jumped to defend their party colleagues further betray the good health of the old politics within the JLP. They should be subject to the same party discipline as the perpetrators, as by supporting slackness they are just as guilty of it. The only way progress is going to be made is if the party faithful become protective of the change of course, and exert pressure on those who slip into the old ways. I expect to hear JLP stalwarts condemning the utterances.
MERE HYPOCRISY
The righteous indignation of the PNP hacks at the JLP blunders, after silence at similar PNP gaffes, is mere hypocrisy. When before the 2003 local government elections Prime Minister Patterson warned that if people did not vote for the PNP they would "suck salt through a wooden spoon" there was no hue and cry. The PNP silence over the Cuban light bulb scandal and the PNP's unwillingness to allow in Dutch investigators to investigate possible bribery and influence peddling do not match the PNP howls over the JLP threats to misuse their power.
The willingness of the JLP government to welcome the Dutch detectives and their unwillingness to accept the PNP apologies for exuberance do not match their rush to accept the apologies of their JLP colleagues and the unwillingness to investigate whether their intemperate campaign statements are a breach of the law. Is the JLP prepared to prosecute one of their own for breaking the law? That will be the acid test of their seriousness about bringing an end to corruption and the old politics.
Those Jamaicans who voted for change in the last election will quickly withdraw their support in the face of the very slackness they are running away from. The JLP must be under no illusion; they must never believe that all those who voted for them in September wish to be called Labourites. The JLP won because they gained the votes of many non-partisan Jamaicans who wanted a change of course. Their margin of victory is too slim to alienate the moral minority that put them there.
Prime Minister Golding has to walk a thin line to keep his slim majority support inside and outside of the House of Representatives.
Peter Espeut is a sociologist and is executive director of an environment and development NGO.
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