Imani Duncan-Price | Change the game, transform the system

Too many Jamaicans barely make the effort to come out to vote. At one point in our democratic history, voter turnout was often over 75 per cent. By 2011, it was 53.2 per cent, in 2016 it was 48.4 per cent and by 2020 it was 37.9 per cent. Who knows what it will be in the next election? Perhaps stagnant, as it’s primarily the hard-core supporters of the two main political parties that tend to vote.

The fact that the apathy is so high in our democracy signals a potent message for those who want to listen. Most Jamaican people are not happy with the status quo of politics.

Despite this obvious cynicism, why is there little or no momentum to fundamentally transform the system of governance? Systems are often maintained by forces that benefit from the structures as they are. Someone is happy about the current state of affairs. That’s why there is little impetus to change. I believe the results we have today are likely the outcome of two games at play.

GAME ONE

The more apathy there is in the public, it becomes easier and cheaper to simply buy an election. In this environment, transactional politics rises to the fore.

The choice made by politicians in the face of this reality of the declining voting public is: 1. Make the effort to communicate visionary and transformative ideas to create a thriving country that works for all? Or 2. Put aside enough money to use election week and buy enough of the people by satisfying immediate needs to win an election?

With increasing public disinterest in voting, the politician is not incentivised to develop ideas and policies to win over the public. It’s a lot of work, with no guarantee of a win.

Jamaica is in this negative democratic spiral where many know this game but few seem to have the energy to stop it. The voters who are up for sale say they take the money because they are not sure when they will see the politician again. Many of the people whose votes are not for sale say neither party is that different and there’s too much corruption, so they abdicate entirely and just don’t vote. Moreover, there is no sustained uproar from the private sector on this issue. Instead, they continue to contribute money to the political parties as they try to secure the best conditions for their business.

Who stands for Jamaica in Game One? The political parties? The business corporate? The voter who takes the money? The non-voter?

In this game, the majority of people in the country lose and Jamaica continues to spiral – stuck in a state that does not move forward in substantive way.

GAME TWO

Game Two is underpinned by the “umbilical cord” of politics (see my article ‘Cut the Umbilical Cord of Politics’, published July 16 ­– https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/focus/20230716/imani-duncan-price-cu...). Whether Game One is won by a political party via essentially buying enough of the voters to win, or putting forward a compelling vision of fundamental positive change for Jamaica, we are still stuck with a system of prime ministerial domination, a politics of patronage and little accountability.

Remember, the “umbilical cord” in politics is the direct and strong line that connects the majority parliamentarians to the prime minister. As in biology, no baby in the womb intentionally hurts their mother as they are sustained by the umbilical cord that connects them. So it is too in Jamaica’s parliamentary democracy.

When last have we seen a government member of parliament (MP) call out corruption and inept management on their side – whether it’s Jamaica Labour Party or People’s National Party in power? If they did, that would be standing up for the best interests of the people. In Parliament, the ones making noise are typically the Opposition MPs and too many in the public think that’s just done for political points. Unfortunately, when the Opposition does become ruling party MPs, they too become silent – justifying the cynical views of the public. The systemic rot is fed by the “umbilical cord”.

CHANGE THE GAME

Last year, Prime Minister Holness indicated that Jamaica would say goodbye to the monarchy. OK, but is this enough? We have an opportunity for so much more. We can really change the Constitution to reorient it to better serve the people.

The Constitution ultimately sets the rules of the game in a country – it is the rule book for a nation. It sets out the fundamental principles by which a country is governed. It describes the main institutions of the nation, and defines the relationship between these institutions (for example, between the Cabinet, Parliament and the Judiciary). It places limits on the exercise of power, and sets out the rights and duties of citizens.

If anyone in Jamaica feels that the rules are not fair or that the rules can be made better, then we should engage in changing the game. Now is the time to do it.

We have lived with 61 years of the “umbilical cord”, and we see that it does not serve the majority. We need to cut it. Go for an executive president elected directly by the people instead of a prime minister chosen by majority MPs. This is the case in Brazil, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. But there is more to be done with the structure of the game beyond an executive president.

MORE POSSIBILITIES

Let’s use this opportunity in changing our Constitution to explore “proportional representation” in our Parliament versus what we have now which locks in counterproductive two-party tribalism. We can have a Constitution that ensures smaller parties have a measure of representation proportionate to their electoral support in the public. This would eliminate the ‘winner take all’ result with one party over another in Parliament. Imagine if our Constitution facilitated coalition governments where parties had to work together to gain the majority to form the Cabinet and then work on behalf of the people?

“Proportional representation”, like they have in New Zealand, would also help to cut patronage and achieve greater levels of openness to dissent and a greater range of ideas to contend. With more diversity of ideas in Parliament and multiple parties, we would also get greater accountability for performance. This would also reduce the impact of transactional money politics too.

Let’s use the opportunity to excite the imagination and energy of the public to transform our Constitution. Support the #AFiWiRepublic Secondary Schools Debate Competition organised by the Advocates Network and the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment. Any real change of this kind only comes from the people.

I’ve been warned that the powers that be won’t make these changes. Perhaps. Or maybe they will see our current path and structure as futile for Jamaica, despite their best efforts. I’ve always believed that most people go into politics to make a difference, no matter their political stripe. After 61 years of independence, with both main political parties running Jamaica for an equal number of years over that period, neither can be happy with the results of where we are. Political leadership can do better.

Ultimately, the power rests with the people. But the people must engage and exercise that power. The people have to force the hands of the politicians to act in the interest of Jamaica. It can happen. I’m hoping the young people with their future in front of them will agitate rather than migrate. And I’m counting on those over 65, too, to bawl it out too. While Jamaica has made advances, that generation knows too well the taste of disappointment in Jamaica not reaching her full potential. With the passage of time, our elders can see more clearly what could have been done differently in retrospect. Let’s listen.

It’s time again to evolve. Happy Independence Day, Jamaica!

- Imani Duncan-Price is a women’s rights activist, World Economic Forum young global leader, affordable housing developer and former senator. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and imaniduncan@gmail.com.