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Published: Sunday | April 10, 2011 0 Comments
Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller, leaders of the two major political parties, which have been likened to gangs because of their lust for power, at the expense of the public interest. - File
Martin Henry, Contributor
The Gleaner is flexing its muscles against the 'gangs' otherwise known as political parties. In a series of editorials last week, prefaced on the front page, the paper has roundly trounced the two major political parties, alternating in Government since 1944, for having failed Jamaica.
The Page A1 preface to the editorial last Sunday said, "Today's editorial turns the spotlight on two parties which have exploited Jamaica to their own benefit. The doldrums in which the nation finds itself point to a deficit of leadership as those who have ascended to power have been more interested in prolonging this abominable legacy. 'Jamaica faces a profound crisis whose repair demands a revolution of thought, and a willingness of those in leadership and with power to admit to the situation and to take a stand in favour of change. We believe that this should start with the political parties and their leaders."
But then the front page preface to the Tuesday editorial lamented that "Jamaica's leadership deficit appears to be widening as the heads of the two major political parties show little interest in radical transformation of the political system, aside from speechifying to score points or to make headlines. But the country demands more. And Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller, both (old) career politicians, seem incapable of delivering."
The editorials are well timed. They have come right behind the crash-landing of the Manatt-Coke commission of enquiry, an event precipitated by the dirty politics of the country and in which the scoring of points by the parties figured far more prominently than any search for truth. And last Sunday, we witnessed a coming out of hibernation of the Jamaica Civil Society Coalition (JCSC), which had emerged following Prime Minister Golding's apology speech last May and the subsequent incursion by the security forces into Tivoli Gardens. The coalition was supporting a full-page advertisement by the National Integrity Action Forum (NIAF), which was reporting on the commitments, made to the nation by the prime minister in that May 17, 2010 speech, to clean up the system.
Listing the 14 commitments and actions to date, the ad concluded, "much progress made", then called out, "Unite for needed action on campaign financing, criminal sanctions for breaches
Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller, leaders of the two major political parties, which have been likened to gangs because of their lust for power, at the expense of the public interest. - File
Martin Henry, Contributor
The Gleaner is flexing its muscles against the 'gangs' otherwise known as political parties. In a series of editorials last week, prefaced on the front page, the paper has roundly trounced the two major political parties, alternating in Government since 1944, for having failed Jamaica.
The Page A1 preface to the editorial last Sunday said, "Today's editorial turns the spotlight on two parties which have exploited Jamaica to their own benefit. The doldrums in which the nation finds itself point to a deficit of leadership as those who have ascended to power have been more interested in prolonging this abominable legacy. 'Jamaica faces a profound crisis whose repair demands a revolution of thought, and a willingness of those in leadership and with power to admit to the situation and to take a stand in favour of change. We believe that this should start with the political parties and their leaders."
But then the front page preface to the Tuesday editorial lamented that "Jamaica's leadership deficit appears to be widening as the heads of the two major political parties show little interest in radical transformation of the political system, aside from speechifying to score points or to make headlines. But the country demands more. And Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller, both (old) career politicians, seem incapable of delivering."
The editorials are well timed. They have come right behind the crash-landing of the Manatt-Coke commission of enquiry, an event precipitated by the dirty politics of the country and in which the scoring of points by the parties figured far more prominently than any search for truth. And last Sunday, we witnessed a coming out of hibernation of the Jamaica Civil Society Coalition (JCSC), which had emerged following Prime Minister Golding's apology speech last May and the subsequent incursion by the security forces into Tivoli Gardens. The coalition was supporting a full-page advertisement by the National Integrity Action Forum (NIAF), which was reporting on the commitments, made to the nation by the prime minister in that May 17, 2010 speech, to clean up the system.
Listing the 14 commitments and actions to date, the ad concluded, "much progress made", then called out, "Unite for needed action on campaign financing, criminal sanctions for breaches
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