Jamaica’s political dilemma

BY ARDENE REID-VIRTUE

LET us pause to reflect. In the eyes of some citizens the 2020 political campaign was reduced to an ongoing sports day for adults when the ‘green and orange houses’ became mobilised on asphalt, television, and the airwaves to showcase ‘talent’. The difficulty to perceive substance extended itself into how some people identified the political parties; not by their names, but merely by their colours— an indication of individuals’ struggle to satisfactorily see what they hoped was the character of each party.

Sadly, for several years many of us have been left in the clutches of disappointment with the performances of succeeding government officials from both sides, and some watched the debates while yearning for a trigger of hope. However, we were left unconvinced that either of the two parties was in a sincere position to govern the country fundamentally as a group of Jamaicans who had the citizens’ best interests at heart.

Amidst failed efforts to gain our trust in proposed plans we heard arguments riddled with fallacies such as ad hominem, sharing of erroneous information, and inflated promises. In addition, we observed deflection, lack of emotional intelligence, hubris, and sheer immaturity. I choose to not categorise the aforementioned for the parties – who the cap fits, let them wear it.

If a simple debate had not been handled by some with a high level of professionalism, maturity, and sensitivity, I suppose you can appreciate the insecurity we have in their expressed capability to adequately govern the country.

All that was left to culminate the sports day was the singing of a primary school cheer that says, “Dem fava iron donkey, Dem fava iron donkey, Dem fava iron donkey inna sharts…”

Jamaican politics has certainly found itself in a pathetic state. For some Jamaicans it did not matter to them who won the election. One of the dominant reasons for this was that people lost faith in manifestos consequent to repeated experiences of unfulfilled promises. Some people were inattentive to the campaign because they were engrossed in figuring out how to escape the country through migration. This is quite sad.

The views expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the Jamaica Observer.

I also feel crestfallen to highlight that some individuals did not judge the quality of the political groups on the basis of their prior performances nor how clear, relevant or persuasive the plans were, but judged them based on who they believed was less corrupt — therein lies the dilemma. My noting this in no way suggests that the winner of the election is nor isn’t the lesser corrupt of the two —that is for you to determine, because whichever the case, Jamaicans simply need a reformation of governance.

The evidence of low and declining voter turnout may be an instructive indication that people are simply fed up with both teams. The parties’ continuous maladministration is reminiscent of the Government presented in Chinua Achebe’s novel A Man of the People. We have witnessed, too often, politicians from both groups who are of the people, but not for the people— they are the character Chief Nanga in the literature text. A quote from the story aptly captures the pitiable nature of Jamaican politics, “As long as men are swayed by their hearts and stomachs, and not their heads, the Chief Nangas of this world will continue to get away with

anything.” I therefore ask the Jamaican people: How much longer will you brag about being “die-hearted”, be satisfied with a cap and shirt that

may have money folded in it, a plastic bag with few grocery items, empty promises, predictable patching of roads, and insult to your intellects? If the sky were paper I could fill it with myriad dissatisfactions. Since Jamaica decided, through voting, who should govern the country, I implore you to raise the standards of your expectations and demands. Do not let politicians feel as if they can remain self-serving, abandon promises, and steal from the country’s coffers without consequences.

We have for a long time experienced the proverb Odili —Chief Nanga’s contrast in the text who does not support corruption and could not be bought through nepotism or bribery —shares about “the man taking things away until the owner at last notices”. We pay taxes; thus we are the owners. Jamaica needs a team of Odilis.

A part of the solution is to eradicate the ‘nineday wonder’ syndrome by holding politicians accountable for embezzlement and any other ill they inflict upon the country. Politicians need to realise that we noticed, and we will not forget. Importantly, all must prove commitment to passing the integrity test which Achebe says is a “blunt refusal to be compromised”. If not, we will indeed progress down a slippery slope.

I do hope we are able to recover from the years of abuse the country has suffered at the hands of orange and green politics. I charge the re-elected Government, and any other government hereafter, to show us that you are indeed for the people.

Ardene Reid-virtue is an educator. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or ardenevirtue@hotmail.com.

Today is the 262nd day of 2020. There are 104 days left in the year. in the United States with a drug traffickers. network of 16 radio stations. 2002: Burundi’s Government

1931: Japan begins siege reports 173 civilians are killed of Mukden, using bomber by uniformed gunmen. It was seaplanes, and occupies one of the worst massacres in strategic points in Manchuria. the country’s nine-year-old civil

1932: King Ibn Saud unifies the war between the Hutu and Tutsi dual kingdom of the Hejaz and ethnic groups.

Najd under the name Kingdom of 2003: Akila al-hashemi,

Saudi Arabia. one of three women on the

1947: The US National Security 25-member Iraqi governing

Act, unifying the Navy, Army, and council, dies five days after newly formed Air Force goes into she was shot by unidentified effect. assailants near her home

1948: Indonesian Communists in Baghdad. This is the first set up Soviet-style Government assassination of an Iraqi in Java but are forced to political leader appointed withdraw. by the Us-led occupation

1955: At least 166 people authority. are killed, 100 missing and 2004: A divided UN Security 1,000 injured due to destructive Council approves a resolution winds and floods in the central threatening oil sanctions against and northern Gulf Coast area of Sudan unless it acts to rein Mexico where Hurricane Hilda in Arab militias blamed for a struck. 19-month killing and looting

1961: Swedish UN Secretary spree in Darfur that the United General Dag Hammarskjold, 56, States has called genocide. is killed in air crash in northern 2005: Afghans choose a Rhodesia — now Zambia — legislature for the first time in while on a peace mission to decades, embracing their newly Congo. recovered democratic rights and

1967: United States braving threats of Taliban attacks announces it will build antimissile to cast votes in schools, tents network to counter any and mosques. attack by China; explosives 2006: UNESCO World Heritage planted by Communist terrorists sites in Lebanon, including destroy Taiwan’s embassy in some of the Middle East’s most Saigon. significant ancient ruins, are in

1973: East Germany, West urgent need of repairs after a Germany, and The Bahamas are month of fighting between Israel admitted to United Nations. and Hezbollah, the UN agency

1975: Newspaper heiress says.

Patricia Hearst is captured by the 2007: While there are an

FBI in San Francisco, 19 months estimated 7,000 languages after being kidnapped by the spoken around the world today, Symbionese Liberation Army one of them dies out about every and then becoming one of its two weeks, linguistic experts members. say.

1978: Egypt’s Foreign Minister 2008: Somchai Wongsawat is Ibrahim Kamel and Ambassador inaugurated as Thailand’s prime to United States Ashraf Ghorbal minister. resign in protest of Egypt’s Camp 2009: Tens of thousands of David agreement with Israel. protesters — many decked

1983: British adventurer out in the green colour of the

George Meegan finishes a six-year-long walk from the southernmost tip of South America to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, covering 30,605 kilometres (19,021 miles).

1988: Burma’s military commander San Maung overthrows Burma’s civilian President Maung Maung in coup.

1993: A United Nations investigation finds Liberian army troops responsible for shooting, bludgeoning, and mutilating more than 400 refugees, most of whom were women and children.

1994: US President Bill Clinton announces Haiti’s strongman Raoul Cedras has agreed to leave power by October 15 and permit US troops to enter the country.

1996: In Lagos, Nigeria, antiriot police clash with thousands of Muslims and 10 people are killed.

1997: In Cairo, Muslim extremists open fire on a tourist bus outside a museum, killing 10 people, mostly German tourists; media mogul Ted Turner pledges US$1 billion to the United Nations.

1998: The Basque separatist group ETA begins observing an open-ended ceasefire after 30 years of fighting for an independent homeland in lands straddling northern Spain and south-west France.

2000: Three gangs of armed gunmen break into three jails on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in separate incidents, freeing more than 200 inmates, many of them convicted and suspected reform movement and chanting “Death to the dictator!” — rally in defiance of Iran’s Islamic leadership, clashing with police and confronting State-run antiisrael rallies.

2010: Despite Taliban rocket strikes and bombings, Afghans vote for a new Parliament, the first election since a fraudmarred presidential ballot last year cast doubt on the legitimacy of the embattled Government.

2011: Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-kahn breaks his silence four months after a New York hotel maid accused him of sexual assault, calling his encounter with the woman a “moral failing” he deeply regrets, but insisting in an interview on French television that no violence was involved.

2012: Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi begins her landmark visit to Washington by declaring that she supports the easing of the remaining US economic sanctions on her country.

2013: The death toll from days of flooding in southern and central Mexico rises to 80 and new reports of landslides near the resort of Acapulco threatens to drive the number of casualties higher.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Samuel Johnson, English poet-critic (1709-1784); Jeanbernard-leon Foucault, French scientist (1819-1868); Greta Garbo, Swedish-born actress (1905-1990); Agnes Demille, US dancer/choreographer (1905-1993); Kwame Nkrumah, Ghanaian statesman (19091972); Robert Blake, US actor (1933- ); Dee Dee Ramone, US rock musician (1952-2002)