Give us wisdom, lest we perish

Bert Samuels, Contributor

THOSE WHO come after us will read and interpret the last week of May 2010 as a turning point in the history of Jamaica. Unlike October 1865, no hero will be produced, though there is common to both, the emergence of a prominent male figure. The earlier period is recounted by the Reverend Devon Dick in the 'The Cross and the Machete', whereas the current catastrophe can aptly be described as the 'Garrison and the Gun'.

The Jamaica Royal Commission was appointed soon after the Morant Bay massacre. The public defender's call for a commission of enquiry into the five firearms found outside of Tivoli, following its three-day incursion which left a death toll exceeding seventy, may yet add to the list of similarities between the two events. However, at this time, we are not sure whether our elected political leader will suffer a fate similar to that of the dismissed Governor Eyre.

Serious lessons

No experience of this magnitude, grabbing the attention of the international press, comes without serious lessons. There is now a keen focus on the question of leadership or lack thereof, in our country. During the second week of May, that is, the week prior to the prime minister's apology, our country witnessed unprecedented calls for his resignation. And, even up until the last week of May, the week of the invasion of Tivoli, a former MP, former leader of the prime minister's own party and former prime minister himself, added his voice to the call for Mr Golding's resignation. It could be argued that there are now more reasons justifying his resignation arising from events since his apology, than that which obtained prior to his seeking our forgiveness.

Let the records show, that prior to the events of May 2010, the islandwide blood shedding had us under the criminal siege of an unabated average of five deaths per day, peaking at times with as much as eleven in one day! Our Constitution demands that the political leadership make laws for the peace, order and good government of Jamaica. The idea of Jamaica coming to the verge of being a failed state, is in part attributable to the chaos and criminal rule in which, to kill and evade apprehension, is an option opened to young, gun-slinging boys. Where there is no peace, no order, and an absence of good government, the state has clearly failed to carry out its principal objective enshrined in Section 48 of the Constitution.

Confidence

The person whom the Governor General finds to be best able to command the confidence of a majority of members in our Parliament, and declares him prime minister, must also, in our democracy, command the confidence of a majority of Jamaicans. Where that majority no longer supports that chosen Member of Parliament, he ought to heed the words of our anthem, which in its prayer put to music, ask that we be guided by wisdom "... lest we perish''. Good sense and good judgment, in my opinion, calls upon him to do the wise thing at this time.

The person who seeks that office, should it ever become vacant by resignation, needs to pray the prayer of Solomon who was asked by God to choose whatever he desired, and in a profound display of the humility required of all great leaders, he elected to answer at verse 9 of 1st Kings chapter 3 thus:

"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"

At verse 10, it is recorded that "the speech pleased the Lord." It would certainly also please the Jamaican people.