PJ: Pride of Jamaica
LAST WEEK Wednesday, Jamaica’s sixth prime minister, Percival James ‘PJ’ Patterson, launched his autobiography, My Political Journey. A video clip written and narrated by Sir Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor of The University of the West Indies, gave new meaning to ‘PJ’, that is, Pride of Jamaica.
Autobiographies allow the writer to define himself or herself as how he or she wants the world to remember him or her. Autobiographies also show what the writer considers important by what is recorded, and what is insignificant by what is omitted. Autobiographies are important because no one should know a person better than the person. The additional value is that they can provide background information, important details, formative influences, and philosophies that inform behaviour.
Styling PJ as ‘Pride of Jamaica’ is to recognise his contribution to nationbuilding over his 14 consecutive years as prime minister. Edward Seaga hailed P.J. as the ‘consummate politician’, and PJ in his response recalled some of the achievements with Seaga, including improving our electoral system to world-class standards. And with a touch of class when Seaga was leaving the function early, PJ escorted him to the door. Such civility.
PJ also called for civility on the political landscape. This is a lifelong commitment of PJ. He will be remembered for adding to our lexicon ‘values and attitudes’, which is really a synonym for a kinder and gentler society which he desired and which was the hallmark of his personality. The present Jamaican political landscape could benefit from an attitude wherein there is discussion and debate over ideas, policies and programmes without distasteful comments and commentary and no dismissive posture or divisiveness. This ought to be based on our common humanity of being made in the image of God with all having equal dignity and all deserving of respect.
‘FAMILY PRIVACY VALUABLE’
Patterson said that the publishers wanted information on his family, which he omitted because of his belief of keeping family life away from public glare. It is natural for a man to want to protect his family and not wanting family to be a campaign issue. Even public figures ought to be given space to have personal moments with family for bonding and renewal.
However, it is not acceptable to ignore family as unimportant or that it is of no concern to the general public how the family unit is conceived and cared for. Some years ago, there was a funeral for a leading politician and two different numbers were given concerning the number of children he fathered. Furthermore, men are marginalised when prominent women have children and the fathers are not identified or praised. So the publishers were correct to insist that Patterson’s family life be included. In that spirit, it would have been good if Richard, his son, was acknowledged in the welcome to the dignitaries.
In Patterson’s response, he seemed averse to an ideology and instead led on a pragmatic basis. But isn’t an ideology a guiding principle to inform policies, inspire people and not cause confusion? But who can argue with someone who has never lost a general election, while being president of the People’s National Party, not even after the Gas Riots of 1999.
A Baptist minister told me he read the last chapter of My Political Journey first, which is in keeping with how it was written, and recalled fascinating stories about Patterson’s quiet exit from the role of a prime minister, while one of Jamaica’s leading private sector leaders told me he read the book until 2 a.m.!
This book records an important part of Jamaica’s history by one who is a pride of Jamaica.