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A cycle of dependence
LLOYD B SMITH
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
IF there is one thing both the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party and those of us who continue to blindly vote for them are guilty of, it is the creation of a culture of dependency since the attainment of political independence on August 6, 1962. Yes, the politics of patronage has continued unabated, although it is now wrapped up in a new gift package called “social intervention”.
One of the founding fathers of the nation, National Hero Norman Manley, issued a challenge during his exit from public life in 1969 to the effect that while his generation had taken the country into the sphere of political independence, it was up to the next generation to pursue the path of economic independence. Today, even as we celebrate Emancipation and Independence, the stark reality is that Jamaica is still a poor, Third-World country rife with corruption, injustice, crime and violence, indiscipline and economic stagnation. A gloomy picture to paint even amidst all the euphoria and sentimentality associated with this time of the year. But true!
Perhaps we are the only country in the world where our minister of finance and planning gloats when he has successfully negotiated a loan, especially on the international market. Yes! Pop the champagne and let's party as we get deeper in debt and chalk up another period of zero growth!
Now that Jamaica has acquired a reputation for being an international mendicant, the tribal politics practised here has helped to reinforce the dependency syndrome symbolised by the advent of garrison constituencies which were set up to provide the template to sustain effectively the politics of scarce benefits and spoils.
Ironically, because our politicians have failed to improve the economy sufficiently so as to enable Jamaicans to be economically empowered, the scarce benefits and spoils have been drying up, so enter the don or area leader who comes with vast financial assets and various spheres of influence and has effectively replaced the political directorate and the MP.
Interestingly, part of the economic sustainability for these community chiefs (sometimes called President or Big Man) is the obtaining of fat government contracts as well as private sector largesse in that these dons ensure their political party of choice the winning votes or the provision of protection respectively.
The Tivoli assault and the subsequent extradition of that mother of all garrisons’ former strongman Christopher “Dudus” Coke have brought into sharp focus on the eve of our 48th year of so-called Independence the social, economic and political quagmire which engulfs this beautiful country with so much good potential. Indeed, it has been said that amidst all the adversity that now buffets us there is the opportunity for meaningful and lasting change. And now that we have done the reality check, are we ready to make that quantum leap? Or are we destined to remain the victims, whether willingly or unwillingly, of petty partisan rivalry?
The recent debacle of a debate on the State of Emergency in Gordon House has revealed to the Jamaican people the pathetic state of representational politics in this troubled nation that is desperately seeking caring, conscious and constructive leadership. Both the Bill Johnson- and Boxhill-led polls have clearly shown that most Jamaicans are fed up with the current state of affairs and are crying out for honest and truthful leaders. In the country of Anancy, tricksters abound and many of the best ones are to be found in the House of Parliament. No wonder it is no longer politics that runs things, but “politricks”.
So where do we go from here? What are the real options? To begin with, this nation needs an action time table. It is outrageous that Jamaica still has an “umbilical link” with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her heirs and successors. It is time that both major political parties, the JLP and the PNP, establish a timeline for this country to move towards becoming a republic with a revised or new constitution that is people-friendly and designed to ensure accountability, transparency and redress. Enough of this bizarre business of swearing allegiance to Missis Queen!
In 2012, Jamaica will be observing 50 years of political independence. If we are to be truly so, then we need to be truly sovereign. In this context, civil society must continue to make the right demands on the political directorate; we must insist that certain pivotal and pressing issues such as education and crime and violence be tackled on the basis of having arrived at a national consensus. Jamaica is still caught up in a political time warp; the Cold War is over, the days of “backra massa” are over, the people want economic prosperity, peace and justice.
In this context, let us begin to substitute social intervention with economic intervention; teaching people to fish rather than subjecting them to be recipients of “fish heads”; no more handouts. Many of our elected representatives are likely to have a serious bout of withdrawal symptoms after so many decades of being patrons (let-off artistes). It is no secret that so many of them are scared stiff of losing what they perceive to be real power by virtue of keeping the Jamaican voter (particularly the lumpen) in a state of persistent poverty (dependency) and mental slavery.
Interestingly, various books, articles and even a movie are depicting 2012 as the year when the world as we know it will end. Against the backdrop of this foreseen cataclysmic event, it is to be noted that constitutionally the next general election is also due at that time. It is time to put our house in order lest, like the foolish virgins, we are found wanting.
LLOYD B SMITH
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
IF there is one thing both the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party and those of us who continue to blindly vote for them are guilty of, it is the creation of a culture of dependency since the attainment of political independence on August 6, 1962. Yes, the politics of patronage has continued unabated, although it is now wrapped up in a new gift package called “social intervention”.
One of the founding fathers of the nation, National Hero Norman Manley, issued a challenge during his exit from public life in 1969 to the effect that while his generation had taken the country into the sphere of political independence, it was up to the next generation to pursue the path of economic independence. Today, even as we celebrate Emancipation and Independence, the stark reality is that Jamaica is still a poor, Third-World country rife with corruption, injustice, crime and violence, indiscipline and economic stagnation. A gloomy picture to paint even amidst all the euphoria and sentimentality associated with this time of the year. But true!
Perhaps we are the only country in the world where our minister of finance and planning gloats when he has successfully negotiated a loan, especially on the international market. Yes! Pop the champagne and let's party as we get deeper in debt and chalk up another period of zero growth!
Now that Jamaica has acquired a reputation for being an international mendicant, the tribal politics practised here has helped to reinforce the dependency syndrome symbolised by the advent of garrison constituencies which were set up to provide the template to sustain effectively the politics of scarce benefits and spoils.
Ironically, because our politicians have failed to improve the economy sufficiently so as to enable Jamaicans to be economically empowered, the scarce benefits and spoils have been drying up, so enter the don or area leader who comes with vast financial assets and various spheres of influence and has effectively replaced the political directorate and the MP.
Interestingly, part of the economic sustainability for these community chiefs (sometimes called President or Big Man) is the obtaining of fat government contracts as well as private sector largesse in that these dons ensure their political party of choice the winning votes or the provision of protection respectively.
The Tivoli assault and the subsequent extradition of that mother of all garrisons’ former strongman Christopher “Dudus” Coke have brought into sharp focus on the eve of our 48th year of so-called Independence the social, economic and political quagmire which engulfs this beautiful country with so much good potential. Indeed, it has been said that amidst all the adversity that now buffets us there is the opportunity for meaningful and lasting change. And now that we have done the reality check, are we ready to make that quantum leap? Or are we destined to remain the victims, whether willingly or unwillingly, of petty partisan rivalry?
The recent debacle of a debate on the State of Emergency in Gordon House has revealed to the Jamaican people the pathetic state of representational politics in this troubled nation that is desperately seeking caring, conscious and constructive leadership. Both the Bill Johnson- and Boxhill-led polls have clearly shown that most Jamaicans are fed up with the current state of affairs and are crying out for honest and truthful leaders. In the country of Anancy, tricksters abound and many of the best ones are to be found in the House of Parliament. No wonder it is no longer politics that runs things, but “politricks”.
So where do we go from here? What are the real options? To begin with, this nation needs an action time table. It is outrageous that Jamaica still has an “umbilical link” with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her heirs and successors. It is time that both major political parties, the JLP and the PNP, establish a timeline for this country to move towards becoming a republic with a revised or new constitution that is people-friendly and designed to ensure accountability, transparency and redress. Enough of this bizarre business of swearing allegiance to Missis Queen!
In 2012, Jamaica will be observing 50 years of political independence. If we are to be truly so, then we need to be truly sovereign. In this context, civil society must continue to make the right demands on the political directorate; we must insist that certain pivotal and pressing issues such as education and crime and violence be tackled on the basis of having arrived at a national consensus. Jamaica is still caught up in a political time warp; the Cold War is over, the days of “backra massa” are over, the people want economic prosperity, peace and justice.
In this context, let us begin to substitute social intervention with economic intervention; teaching people to fish rather than subjecting them to be recipients of “fish heads”; no more handouts. Many of our elected representatives are likely to have a serious bout of withdrawal symptoms after so many decades of being patrons (let-off artistes). It is no secret that so many of them are scared stiff of losing what they perceive to be real power by virtue of keeping the Jamaican voter (particularly the lumpen) in a state of persistent poverty (dependency) and mental slavery.
Interestingly, various books, articles and even a movie are depicting 2012 as the year when the world as we know it will end. Against the backdrop of this foreseen cataclysmic event, it is to be noted that constitutionally the next general election is also due at that time. It is time to put our house in order lest, like the foolish virgins, we are found wanting.
