Trevor Munroe | Righting wrongs: our voice does matter

During these days when we celebrate our heroes, it is a time for rest, relaxation and reflection as we take a break from the struggle to make two ends meet. On reflection, in today’s world, we have much for which to give thanks. Our democracy remains stable, at a time when instability threatens the most mature democracies. Jamaicans of Jewish and Arab origin, alongside those of African, Indian and Chinese extract, live side by side in relative harmony.

Thousands of innocent people are not being herded into prisons and lockups without due process, as is happening in El Salvador’s “democracy”. The independence of our judges is not being threatened by legislation as is happening in Israel. We can still choose and remove our parliamentarians in relatively free and fair elections as we have done for over 70 years. Our women of distinction can rise to become prime minister, chief justice, head of the army, director of public prosecutions, and permanent secretaries in charge of the public service.

Our journalists are not being intimidated, attacked or murdered as happens under “democracy” in Mexico. Our people’s life expectancy and our youth’s access to education is among the highest in the world. But, needless to say, we still have a long way to go and “many rivers to cross” and challenges to face on the journey to making Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, do business, raise families … and retire.

PRESERVE AND MAKE IT BETTER

Hence, we must not only give thanks for the good that we have, we must preserve these and endeavour to make that which is good even better. Part of that challenge is to recognise what is bad and what is wrong and to continually learn the lesson that speaking out against wrongs and standing up for rights does and can bring better. This is a lesson from the past struggles of our heroes. It is also a lesson that we can and need to learn from what is going on every day around us.

• Is this not the lesson to be learnt from the fact that Crab Circle is now closed and vendors are about to undergo training and certification in food handling?

• Is this not the lesson to be learnt that the Bank of Nova Scotia, one of the most powerful private sector institutions in the country, as of April 24, 2023 after many years, has abandoned the injustice of charging cash fees for persons encashing cheques? Who can doubt that the lawsuit filed by MP Fitz Jackson has contributed to ending this nefarious practice?

• Is this not the lesson to be learnt, that another powerful business entity, Digicel, has had to cancel erection of a cell-tower in Aylsham Heights? Can anyone doubt that it was the actions of the Aylsham Heights Citizens Association, which took the KSAMC to court and had the permit for Digicel to erect the cell-tower declared illegal in July/August of this year.

• Would not the wrongs being permitted by NEPA and the KSAMC, as well as owners of the Charlemont Drive Development remained hidden had not the Charlemont Neighbourhood Watch and Citizens Association brought this matter to the Integrity Commission for investigation?

• Would Mrs Dalrymple-Philibert have remained Speaker had not, in her words, “public sentiment” been as strong as it was against her retaining her position in the face of corruption-related charges?

• How come, it is in June 2023 that a Jamaican prime minister is announcing Job Descriptions and a Code of Conduct for MPs after the latter was promised 14 years prior – in Vision 2030 – and remained unfulfilled over the course of four administrations. Clearly, this was a response to widespread public dissatisfaction with the unconscionable 200 per cent plus increases in salaries to ministers and MPs.

• How come, on September 14, a massive increase of 179 per cent in stipends for senators was communicated and then withdrawn on September 27, following objection by the Opposition in the Senate?

In each of these instances within the last few months, wrong would have stood unless the voice of the people was expressed and heard. That voice was and is often expressed through our free media, our civil society organisations, our churches, our courts, our public institutions, as well as the Opposition and responsive members of the political directorate. Even in times of adversity and in the face of authoritarian tendencies, this coalition can make what is bad into good and what is good into better.

OUTCRY NECESSARY

Outcry is necessary to reverse wrong, but it is not sufficient to prevent and deter recurrence. For prevention and deterrence, outcry needs to be complemented by sustained advocacy to strengthen and enforce rules, regulations and the key institutions of our democracy.

Our Parliament is one such critical institution. This is the body that is bound under our Constitution to make laws for the “peace, order and good government of Jamaica”. It is also the institution charged with the responsibility, along with our Judiciary, to make sure that no prime minister or minister, however popular, can do as they wish unchecked. The Executive must be held to account.

A just-concluded assessment by National Integrity Action has found that there is a need for urgent strengthening of the Parliament’s capacity to fulfil this constitutional responsibility. In that regard, all those who wish to see improvement in our democracy must insist on a Code of Conduct for parliamentarians. It cannot be right that MPs can conduct themselves in whatever way they wish, without regard to guidelines for conduct as exists for our judges, nominally at least for ministers and as exists in democracies as far different as South Africa, the United Kingdom and even semi-independent states like the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Joint Select Committee now meeting with terms of reference requiring consideration of the job descriptions of ministers and MPs, as well as the Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians, must have placed before it the Code of Conduct – yet undisclosed – that was drafted by the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs. At the same time, the welcomed commitment by the Leader of Government Business Ed Bartlett, to ensure that private members’ motions and private members’ bills are taken and debated expeditiously, must be supported and implemented. There must be no further delay in tabling and debating the bills relating to better supervision of the banks and creating provisions for impeachment, proposed by MP Fitz Jackson and Opposition Leader Mark Golding, respectively.

It is also about time that Prime Minister Holness’ September 2020 exhortation to government backbenchers is acted on – that it is the Parliament as a whole, and not only the Opposition that has the responsibility to hold the government to account. I agreed with him then, as I do now, that the backbenchers’ duty is not just – if at all – to pound the desk when ministers speak, but rather to probe the actions and inactions of the Executive.

So, as we reflect on the heroes of the past, let us resolve to make our voices heard, and our advocacy meaningful in righting wrongs and strengthening our democracy.

Professor Emeritus Trevor Munroe is the founding director of National Integrity Action. Send feedback to info@niajamaica.org or columns@gleanerjm.com.