Wrong message, Mr PM

Last year, Mr PM risked everything to stoutly defend the constitutional rights of one of our citizens (Constitution of Jamaica: Fundamental Rights and Freedoms - of the individual - Section 13). ... "I'm not defending the wrongdoing of any person, but I will say this: If I have to pay a political price for it, I'm going to hold a position that constitutional rights do not begin at Liguanea. That's not where they start." (Excerpt from PM's parliamentary address, March 2, 2010). Thanks to the Manatt-Dudus enquiry, now we know that the minister of national security interprets this constitutional right to privacy as being sacrosanct, no matter what an individual is suspected of conspiring to do or is doing.

To that end, we defended that individual's constitutional rights, although Jamaica's image was besmirched; we were internationally embarrassed and sorely wounded by the widespread dislocations, economic fallout, violence and loss of 70-odd lives that ensued. Yet, the attorney general succumbed under pressure and, once again, used the Constitution - this time to defer that individual's rights for the greater good (Fundamental Rights and Freedoms - Whereas every person in Jamaica is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual ... but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest).

However, all that adherence to the Constitution during the extradition affair - albeit manipulated for suitability - now appears to have been a mere convenience given the recent admission by Mr PM that he wilfully disregarded the Constitution of Jamaica for the sake of politics. Although no document or oath requires a declaration of dual-citizenship status, Mr PM knew that five members of his political party went up for nomination, were elected and entered Parliament, even though their actions breached the (supposedly sacrosanct) Constitution (Constitution of Jamaica Chapter 5 Part 1, Section 40 - 2 ... conditions for eligibility of persons to sit in Gordon House).

It's true that the colonialist tradition of only giving credence to the British Commonwealth - even though many former benefits no longer exist - is outmoded and needs revision. It's ridiculous to constitutionally cling to British ties when the vast majority of the Jamaican diaspora now resides in North America. The rules regarding dual citizenship obviously need urgent revision; however, those rules still exist within the Constitution of Jamaica, and must be adhered to.

'Untouchable' public servants

And then there is the repeated impolite, aggressive, haughty, unbecoming, disrespectful and unethical behaviour of several so-called representatives of the people. Because of 'politics as usual', they remain untouchable and well ensconced in their jobs as public servants, no matter what they do or say - even telling an enquiring female TV anchor (on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day) and, by extension, the entire nation, "Go to hell!" They are allowed to get away with just about anything unless they are needed to be the scapegoat-fall guy for the greater (political) cause.

On April 4, 2011, the constituents of South West St Catherine will vote Everald 'Go to Hell!' Warmington back into office, even though he knowingly and wilfully occupied the House fraudulently for years, and even though he disrespected each and every one of us. But, that's politics for you.

So here we are, a nation being sent the wrong message and our upcoming leaders being taught that our rules and regulations, laws, lives, deportment, morality and adherence to the Constitution of Jamaica depend solely on political expedience. Our future leaders have precious few role models to emulate. All strata of society have failed them through crassness, indiscipline, corruption, turpitude and mixed signals. Wrong message, Mr PM, wrong message.

Garth A. Rattray is a physician with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm and garthrattray@gmail.com.