Mark Wignall | The politics of the plastics ban

At one level, there are those who would want to congratulate the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration on ploughing ahead to meet its early 2019 deadline on banning the use of specific single-use plastics, while at another level exist people at street level concerned about the alternatives facing them.

The JLP administration is sitting on the right side of history, as global awareness of plastics and its degradation of the environment is forcing nick-of-time action by many countries to act now and not 10 years down the road. A European-wide ban is planned for 2021; Ireland wants it done this year and, South Korea is right on top of it.

According to CNN, "The ban, which was introduced as part of an amendment to an existing law, comes into effect on Tuesday. It affects 2,000 large supermarkets and 11,000 supermarkets with sales floor spaces of 165 square metres (1,776 square feet) or more."

The New Year's Eve article also said, "Dozens of countries have imposed bans or taxes on single-use plastic bags, including Australia, the UK, France, China, New Zealand and the Netherlands. Kenya has perhaps the harshest law: those who violate the ban face four years in prison or a fine up to $39,000."

China, not so recently, a country in a mad rush to bring smog and degradation to its huge country and its massive population to a halt, has had its epiphany. "China last year banned imports of 24 varieties of solid waste, including types of plastic and unsorted paper, putting pressure on Europe to deal with its own waste," continued the article.

The JLP administration is not by any means purely a policymaking entity. It is first a political party, therefore, at this very minute, while you are reading this, the JLP is asking itself what will be the likely electoral ramifications from this move. To what extent is the man and woman at street level who are forced to hustle for a living in harsh, time-consuming conditions, seeing this as a vote positive or a negative for the JLP when the next election rolls around?

A delay

As expected, the opposition People's National Party cannot afford to shoot itself in the electoral foot by finding too much to agree on, so it is calling on a delay in the roll-out of the ban, and, of course, more consultation with 'stakeholders'.

Daryl Vaz, JLP minister without portfolio, but with responsibility for, among other things, the environment, is not in the mood for any delays. When I contacted him late last week and asked if the JLP administration was planning a delay, he answered with a simple, "No sir".

A well-known doctor, who has his private office deep in the heart of a troubled inner-city hotspot, told me on Tuesday, "I predict this is going to make them lose the next election. People are going to see this as promoting the rich man and 'boxing food out of the mouth of the small man'. That is the talk on the ground."

My doctor friend may be known in his circles for hyperbole more than accuracy at predicting elections, but there are real problems playing out in the streets.

"Mek dem come arrest me," said my idrin, Soupy, who sells his overpriced ($250) fare in a styrofoam cup. "Me have stock fi six months and can get more after six months."

My prediction is that a businessman or two will likely be arrested later in the year as attempts are made to restock and distribute the banned items. Sacrificial lambs are nothing new in politics and political campaigns.

- Mark Wignall is a political and public-affairs analyst. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and observemark@gmail.com.