Ronald Thwaites | Development as freedom

‘Development as Freedom’ is the title of Amartya Sen’s book, which is an important take on human purpose. For me, the most significant result of Don Anderson’s recent poll was not the party standings, but the finding that the majority of Jamaicans think that the country is going in the wrong direction.

And don’t bother telling me that popular discontent and alienation are normal, universal or just COVID-19-related and will dissipate when rum and curry goat start to run. No. It is a serious reproach to all concerned with our common life when disaffection with the national project grows, and when thousands line up each week to escape.

Governments will inevitably change, and that is good and normal in a democracy. But under the present system, what confidence do most of us have that things will really improve when that happens?

I reckon it’s going to take much more than a change of administration for the growth of freedom to be a realistic hope for the majority of us. Because that is what development is all about – not dry statistics about GDP growth, necessary as that is when it is inclusive, which ours is not – but when human agency is expanded; when ordinary people experience friendship, despite differences, and are not cramped and blunted by hunger, poor education, unemployment and a culture of selfishness, banality, tribalism and corruption .

With this thinking in mind, many issues last week were disturbing. First, there was the response to the opinion poll. To impugn Don Anderson is base and a tell-tale of panic and desperation. By their own words, the Jamaica Labour Party establish their own degeneracy. The People’s National Party’s reaction has been more mature, but still gives no glimpse of what we commit to do when elected. Disappointing! Hello! Many of our lives are in crisis, but our rulers seem more concerned about their own political fortunes.

EDUCATION AGAIN

Last week, scores of parents approached me and others, seeking a better school for their seventh-grade child. We are not attending to the upgrade of the weaker high schools with any urgency. If we apparently can’t afford to do what is necessary and possible to correct mass illiteracy in schools but have money to splash on ourselves, no wonder most Jamaicans are convinced that we are headed in the wrong direction.

And we make it worse, just like with the poll results, by denying the truth. Even this conservative newspaper, in its editorial last Thursday, has come to acknowledge the perniciousness of automatic grade promotion and the necessity to follow the well-recommended Mississippi model of ensuring adequate literacy and numeracy by grade three. But where is the change?

Also, who could be advising Minister Williams, who disputes the peril of the continuing migration of teachers. Facing reality is the first element of seeking truth. Very large numbers are leaving, and while inexperienced replacements may be found, the quality of instruction is bound to decline, especially when compounded by the still under-acknowledged COVID-19 deficit.

While the promised STEM teacher scholarships are welcome, regretfully, to my certain knowledge, they have been promised before by the same people and not delivered. In any event, while STEM is crucial to future flourishing, more so is basic literacy, numeracy and good behaviour. These competencies and accompanying attitudes are foundational. Put the money on them first. Many people in the early-childhood sector are still being paid below minimum wage. And insufficient attention is being given to the precarious economy of the hundreds of indispensable private schools.

MISPLACED PRIORITIES

The consequences of misplaced priorities are unmistakable. Last week again, the news has been flooded with stories of inter-gang violence leading to more states of emergency. For all the talk about reduced crime and normalising emergency responses, I thought that by now most of the gangs would have been dismantled. Instead, they are spawning. Why are more youth obviously being attracted to deviant lives?

A few years ago, Parliament refused to discuss my motion asking these questions and proposing solutions. Instead, members of parliament are spending time planning to restrict freedom, consistently ignoring the causes of crime and violence. In what direction is all this taking us? Do we see the connection with the poll findings of mass disaffection?

REMEMBERING LAS CHIN

Striving for material advancement by itself can never bring fulfilment. Happiness must include a spiritual dimension – a zeal towards a larger cause than our own enrichment. Life is too brittle and short for it to be otherwise. Understanding this was the foundational conviction of the late Lascelles Chin. He did well in business by doing good for all Jamaicans with limited pockets. LASCO’s high-quality food, personal care and pharmaceutical products sold for less than the competition and have played a major part is reducing malnutrition, protein deficiency and sheer hunger.

That serving the poor was his passion sets him apart from the prevailing business ethic in Jamaica and broader neoliberalism. From behind a rural shop counter, here came a Chinese-Jamaican patriot whose optimism and drive defied all the negative and divisive elements of race, politics and class, which we tolerate to our continuing distress.

At Las Chin’s funeral last week, no one spoke of his wealth. It was his relationships which endeared him to the nation and brought him happiness. Although Las supported my election campaigns without my asking, I never knew his politics. That didn’t really matter. What did matter was his love for his country and all its people. As Archbishop Richards said, Las Chin was a “man for others”. That’s the way to live!.

Andrew Holness and Mark Golding sat side by side at the Chin thanksgiving service, mourning together and jointly appreciating goodness. So shouldn’t they show shared concern and effort in all matters of national importance? Disagreement on public policy and the craving for power ought never to be reducible to an absence of cooperation in the interest of the common cause of the nation.

Las Chin would agree with that. His life proved it. What about the rest of us?

Rev Ronald G. Thwaites is an attorney-at-law. He is former member of parliament for Kingston Central and was the minister of education. He is the principal of St Michael’s College at the UWI. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.