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Baptism by wind, water, fire!
published: Sunday | August 26, 2007
Roderick Hewitt, Contributor
Hewitt
August 27 general elections has been postponed as a result of the devastating impact of Hurricane Dean and at the time of writing a new date is to be announced by the Governor - General. Whenever that date comes, a new government will be chosen and a 'new' Primer Minister will be appointed. Hurricane Dean has served to remind us how vulnerable we are as a nation and has forced us to face up to things that really matter in life. This election campaign was getting out of hand and it needed something beyond ourselves to bring us back to reality.
I wish, therefore, to offer a reality check. Hurricane Dean tested us with some awesome winds, in which roofs that looked perfect during 'normal times' were found to be inadequate when faced by winds of over 145 km per hour! Trees that looked strong and healthy, were found to be weak when the real test came. Their roots were not deep and the trunks were rotten or hollow. The baptism by wind proved to be the downfall for our agriculture sector. Bananas are no match for strong winds!
Others faced a baptism by water. The powerful force of the sea flattened communities. Roofs that were guaranteed by contractors proved to have been built by deception. Rainfall poured into many houses and made them inhabitable.
For others surrounded by much water, their cry was for water to drink, and to bathe.
The third baptism is still being felt, literally and symbolically. From fire, we receive light, and a large number of our citizens are still in darkness, praying for JPS to give them some light. However, the real test of baptism by fire awaits the outcome of the general election.
Whichever party that is chosen to form the government, will encounter a baptism by fire unlike no other before, that at the core, will threaten the nation's well-being.
The long election campaign has not really focused on the real issues. Indeed, it has served todivert us from giving attention to some of the critical issues that are stultifying our nation's development. We have some postponed category four and five crises, awaiting the leadership of Portia Simpson or Bruce Golding, that will keep her/him awake at night worrying about the well-being of this nation.
Even before the coming of Hurricane Dean, we had an economy that was operating below what was needed to seriously reduce our growing unemployment to an acceptable social level, that makes a real difference in the life of the poor. Based on the manifestos of the JLP and PNP, we have both parties committed to policies that will lift the income of the poor, improve rural access to education and health, and increased social and job opportunities for the poor. The problem with their manifestos is that their promises are easier said than done.
Leak of intended resources
The public knows that resources intended for the alleviation of the poor do not actually reach them in full, or even half! Rather, what the public observes is that it leaks out into the pockets of bureaucratic incompetence (cost overruns) and political henchmen (corruption), and fattens the pockets of those who talk the most about helping the poor.
We possess a very powerful national motto: "Out of many one people."
Based on what is happening in this nation, it appears this motto is owned, believed and practised by the rich and powerful. I am tempted to name names, but it is not necessary because their names are well known throughout Jamaica. United they rule, whether they are JLP or PNP. It is not politics that unites them. Indeed, they invest heavily in both parties and ensure that they have relatives or sponsor candidates in both parties. Rather, what unites them is their unquenchable desire and dedication solely to the core objective: the exigencies of power.
So, as we approach the election, let every voter be conscious that it is power that unites, regardless of the socioeconomic diversities. Our powerful economic class has mastered the art of preserving and maintaining its power through mergers and acquisitions. I am, therefore, not expecting many socio-political and economic changes arising out this election, regardless of the outcome. After the election, we will quickly return to business as usual, regardless of which party wins, because the political will needed to address the woes of this nation requires national consensus. That has been put on the back-burner by both parties.
The threat of a Category Four hurricane brought the attention of the world's media to focus on this small island that occupies a big space in world affairs that belies its size. After 45 years of independence, Jamaicans have come of age with a deep sense of entitlement, belonging and ownership. The good news in all of this is that we have a resilient culture that has demonstrated over and over again its awesome capacity to face up to and overcome adversities. However, in spite of all the good things that are happening in this nation, a significant number of our citizens do not feel that they have a secure future here. Politically-immature leadership - that shamefully panders to the worst kind of garrison communalism, that majors in intolerance of others that embrace a different political outlook, exists at all levels.
I pray for a new age, a new Jamaica, in which our young people will nourish their dream of a brighter tomorrow.
Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt is pastor of the Hope United Church, St. Andrew.Email hopeunited@cwjamaica.com.
published: Sunday | August 26, 2007
Roderick Hewitt, Contributor
Hewitt
August 27 general elections has been postponed as a result of the devastating impact of Hurricane Dean and at the time of writing a new date is to be announced by the Governor - General. Whenever that date comes, a new government will be chosen and a 'new' Primer Minister will be appointed. Hurricane Dean has served to remind us how vulnerable we are as a nation and has forced us to face up to things that really matter in life. This election campaign was getting out of hand and it needed something beyond ourselves to bring us back to reality.
I wish, therefore, to offer a reality check. Hurricane Dean tested us with some awesome winds, in which roofs that looked perfect during 'normal times' were found to be inadequate when faced by winds of over 145 km per hour! Trees that looked strong and healthy, were found to be weak when the real test came. Their roots were not deep and the trunks were rotten or hollow. The baptism by wind proved to be the downfall for our agriculture sector. Bananas are no match for strong winds!
Others faced a baptism by water. The powerful force of the sea flattened communities. Roofs that were guaranteed by contractors proved to have been built by deception. Rainfall poured into many houses and made them inhabitable.
For others surrounded by much water, their cry was for water to drink, and to bathe.
The third baptism is still being felt, literally and symbolically. From fire, we receive light, and a large number of our citizens are still in darkness, praying for JPS to give them some light. However, the real test of baptism by fire awaits the outcome of the general election.
Whichever party that is chosen to form the government, will encounter a baptism by fire unlike no other before, that at the core, will threaten the nation's well-being.
The long election campaign has not really focused on the real issues. Indeed, it has served todivert us from giving attention to some of the critical issues that are stultifying our nation's development. We have some postponed category four and five crises, awaiting the leadership of Portia Simpson or Bruce Golding, that will keep her/him awake at night worrying about the well-being of this nation.
Even before the coming of Hurricane Dean, we had an economy that was operating below what was needed to seriously reduce our growing unemployment to an acceptable social level, that makes a real difference in the life of the poor. Based on the manifestos of the JLP and PNP, we have both parties committed to policies that will lift the income of the poor, improve rural access to education and health, and increased social and job opportunities for the poor. The problem with their manifestos is that their promises are easier said than done.
Leak of intended resources
The public knows that resources intended for the alleviation of the poor do not actually reach them in full, or even half! Rather, what the public observes is that it leaks out into the pockets of bureaucratic incompetence (cost overruns) and political henchmen (corruption), and fattens the pockets of those who talk the most about helping the poor.
We possess a very powerful national motto: "Out of many one people."
Based on what is happening in this nation, it appears this motto is owned, believed and practised by the rich and powerful. I am tempted to name names, but it is not necessary because their names are well known throughout Jamaica. United they rule, whether they are JLP or PNP. It is not politics that unites them. Indeed, they invest heavily in both parties and ensure that they have relatives or sponsor candidates in both parties. Rather, what unites them is their unquenchable desire and dedication solely to the core objective: the exigencies of power.
So, as we approach the election, let every voter be conscious that it is power that unites, regardless of the socioeconomic diversities. Our powerful economic class has mastered the art of preserving and maintaining its power through mergers and acquisitions. I am, therefore, not expecting many socio-political and economic changes arising out this election, regardless of the outcome. After the election, we will quickly return to business as usual, regardless of which party wins, because the political will needed to address the woes of this nation requires national consensus. That has been put on the back-burner by both parties.
The threat of a Category Four hurricane brought the attention of the world's media to focus on this small island that occupies a big space in world affairs that belies its size. After 45 years of independence, Jamaicans have come of age with a deep sense of entitlement, belonging and ownership. The good news in all of this is that we have a resilient culture that has demonstrated over and over again its awesome capacity to face up to and overcome adversities. However, in spite of all the good things that are happening in this nation, a significant number of our citizens do not feel that they have a secure future here. Politically-immature leadership - that shamefully panders to the worst kind of garrison communalism, that majors in intolerance of others that embrace a different political outlook, exists at all levels.
I pray for a new age, a new Jamaica, in which our young people will nourish their dream of a brighter tomorrow.
Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt is pastor of the Hope United Church, St. Andrew.Email hopeunited@cwjamaica.com.