What was Donovan Williams thinking?

Young politician Donovan Williams made light of the situation of painting the sidewalks in his constituency. These actions are not expected from the political representatives themselves, and one now really has to wonder if he knows his role.

Do away with tribal politics

18 Dec 2021

TRIBAL POLITICS has created havoc by causing bloodshed and misery in a number of i nner-city communities. The painful stories about broken lives and shattered dreams, common to many such communities, continue to be a blot on the face of the nation.

So, when a freshman member of parliament does something that can be justly described as bald politicking, and which has the potential to inflame an already tense situation, he should be called out and made to take remedial action.

Donovan Williams came up with the idea to paint some sidewalks in Central Kingston green, the colour of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Traditionally, neutral colours of white or yellow are used for road markings. We see this as the action of a prankster during an election season and certainly not what we expect of a political leader.

Political Ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown, who viewed a video of the member of parliament painting the sidewalk, scolded him for breaching tenets of the agreement and declaration in the code of political conduct.

She has written to him ordering him to remove the paint by Sunday, December 19, failing which he has been summoned to a meeting on December 20.

We are not sure what Mr Williams was aiming to achieve by his action. What it has done, however, is shed a light on his intention of feeding into the divisive politics that has been so pervasive in this constituency. What it is saying is this: here is a leader who does not recognise that Jamaica and the rest of the world is experiencing a health and economic crisis, and one who does not understand that his role includes calling a halt to politicking and bringing all the factions together to plot their way out of the current crisis.

IT IS A PROBLEM

If we care to be generous in the spirit of the season of good cheer, we may excuse Mr Williams for youthful exuberance. But the same consideration ought not to be given to National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, who is an old hand at politics. When the incident was brought to his attention by a reporter, he flippantly replied about some obscure political party in Germany using the colours of the Jamaican flag. Dr Chang sought to make light of the matter while promising that he may visit the constituency, if it was seen as a problem.

Dr Chang, it is a problem. Mr Williams should be brokering peace in Central Kingston. He has an opportunity to show his mettle by getting all the warring factions together and helping them to transform their lives. Tribal politics has the potential to hold back communities, cities and nations. Not an easy task, by any means, but Mr Williams would distinguish himself as a leader for the future if he were able to move in the direction of self-examination and personal accountability within his constituency while seeking to improve the conditions under which people live.

The leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party should also be concerned about any action, however small, which may contribute to deepening the trust deficiency in politics and government. It should ask Mr Williams to remove the paint at his expense and ask that he apologise to his constituents and the nation.

One thing is sure, the Jamaican identity is above all others, and every Jamaican deserves a fair chance to earn a livelihood and grow a family. It should not matter whether one supports the Jamaica Labour Party or the People’s National Party, or no party, for that matter. Tribal politics is so old – away with it!

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