Curtis Webley | The politics of buyout

An article in The Sunday Gleaner titled ‘Countdown begins’ illuminates egregious corrupt practices in Jamaica’s major political parties and corroborates the view that the entire system is rotten.

Weeks ago, Opposition Leader Peter Phillips and Prime Minister Andrew Holness blamed each other’s parties of being more corrupt than the other. Both leaders vowed to eliminate corruption with their continued recitation of a “zero-tolerance approach”.

However, both parties have now capitulated, fed delegates a nepenthe, and embarked on the same flagrant path they vowed to eliminate in exchange for continued political dominance.

I am still recuperating from shock and an self-induced coma knowing that our politicians are insistent and unrelenting in their quest to buy delegate votes to secure leadership. Our politicians formulated and endorsed the Corruption Prevention Act but have failed to crack down on bribery and fraud. Have they conveniently forgotten that vote-buying is corrupt, or somehow think they and their delegates are exempt from punishment and immune to prosecution?

Dr Christopher Charles, lecturer of government at The University of the West Indies (UWI), said that he was under no illusions that some delegates will vote in exchange for personal gain, including with their bellies.

DEMYSTIFYING CORRUPTION

Political analyst Dr Paul Ashley mentioned that delegates will be well fed and their bills all paid in full by the time they vote on September 7. Although neither of these two learned men mentioned the word ‘corruption’ in their dialogue, it appears to be the modus operandi for political party leadership and solidifies the fact that corruptible practices at the highest level of government are ongoing, pervasive, and acceptable by those who will benefit directly. But let’s look closer at the self-evident trait and demystify this element of corruption.

When a political leader gives a bribe to secure power, the perpetrator might be considered either arrogant or ignorant, lacking morals or integrity, having no sustainable vision for the future of our country, not motivated or confident enough to win office on real issues that will affect the people, or seeking a pedestal as a forum for personal or familial gain and accomplishments.

Our approximately 3,000 delegates, who will be wined and dined by politicians and have their debts eliminated, according to Dr Paul Ashley, are even more culpable of corruptible practices because our democracy is being undermined and our economic development threatened.

History tells us that for more than 300 years, our people lived in servility at the hands of our colonial masters. Eighty-one years later, we have seen the same mental incarceration and holistic manacles that have tethered our people and kept them in sustained poverty, this time by our own home-grown leaders.

If our delegates are forced to make a decisive vote for their own benefit, our country is doomed to failure. Millions of Jamaicans will continue to live in poverty. Goods and services that should be provided to communities will not be delivered. Our democracy will be threatened, and ethical values and the rule of law will diminish.

Our delegates must circumvent personal avarice and selfishness. They must stand up against corruption, hypocrisy, ineffective politicians, and the regurgitation of unfulfilled promises and vote for those who will benefit not just a few thousand representatives but all of the people.

Dr Curtis Webley is an entrepreneur in Chicago, Illinois. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and cwebley@wascpafirm.com.