Good reverse gear, JLP
WHEN MY son Mark Jr was just learning to walk, he plunged one hand into a scalding bowl of cornmeal porridge that was on a coffee table in the living room. It was a Saturday morning and my friend Eddie had dropped by. At his request, I had prepared the porridge for him.
I was mad for a little while, but as I rushed to the kitchen to apply cold, running water to the toddler’s hand, I could understand why he disobeyed me warning him twice and causing injury to himself. He was just a child.
That presents us with the question that just last week had been asked of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the governmental administration it forms. Why would the JLP Government make such a patently clear unforced error when it was seeking amendments to the Access to Information Act that would increase the exemption period for public access to Cabinet documents from 20 to 70 years? This would be like a sensible adult deliberately toppling a US$50,000 Lalique crystal vase, causing it to break to bits. Why? And, did the JLP Government not know that it would have to bow over such stupidity?
In the real world of subterranean politics, it would have required a bit of ‘research’ and ‘preparation’. If we ease up on the rein and allow ourselves to fully understand that reality, this conversation between a senior JLP politician and his PNP counterpart would not necessarily be impossible.
JLP: We have a problem or two which took place when we were in power in 2007 to 2011. Putting all cards on the table, if we are in power in, say, 2027 or close to those times, we do not want some snoop using the 20-year limit to reveal secrets of those times. What can we do for you?
PNP: It’s not everything we did in the late 1990s and in the 2000s that would make us feel comfortable if they should see the light of day in, say, 2021 to 2023. If we are in power or close to it, the road forward might prove problematic. JLP: So, are we cool on tacking on 50 years and just simply lock down everything?
PNP: Yes, but it is tricky. You and your people will have to frame it. If pressure takes us, we will issue all of the right ‘opposition’ positions, but it’s a secret that goes with us. Both the JLP and the PNP will know that the above outline is my attempt to bring parody to politics.