Ganging up on politicians

When this newspaper's editorials began referring to the groups of politicians representing both major political parties in Jamaica as 'gangs', I expected unprecedented fireworks from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People's National Party (PNP). However, initially, only a few diehard party supporters dissented publicly. The over-whelming feedback was from readers ganging up on politicians for their behaviour and giving strong support to the editorials and their message of disappointment in, and disgust with, the stagnant, harmful, self-serving, negative style of politics.

Although the initial piece made it very clear that the reference to gangs was confined to "a group of people associating and acting together in a common cause", I began to question the purpose of repeatedly hammering the editorial theme. It took over a month of several such editorials before the respective conduits of party views made their chagrin public. But they played right into the hands of the newspaper when they complained that the term 'gang' - with which they were being associated - conjures up images of criminality and all that it entails. Their plaintive utterances garnered very little sympathy from Jamaicans, save those embedded with them in their 'common cause'.

Complaining about being linked to the negative image that the word 'gang' inspires only serves to highlight the association that the political gangs in Gordon House have with criminal gangs, groups of murderers with political roots now diversified into extortion, drugs, guns and terrorism. I would, therefore, advise our politicians that, instead of complaining vociferously and trying in vain to disassociate themselves from the negative interpretation of the term 'gang', they use the opportunity to stand naked before the mirror that the editorials provide and take a long, hard look at themselves.

The perception that many frustrated Jamaicans have of politicians would be best represented by a homunculus with beady eyes looking for the next opportunity to gain something for itself. It would have large nostrils for sniffing out monies from contracts (meant to benefit the country) and contributors ('investing' in a political party with the expectation of favourable treatment when contracts become available). It would have a large mouth and a forked tongue for long-winded, verbose, disingenuous and sometimes raucous speeches.

self-serving greed

It would have large hands with claw-like phalanges to grab whatever it can. The hands would also have bloodstains from direct, indirect or complicit involvement in the political and gangland violence that JLP/PNP rivalry spawned. The homunculus would have a disproportionately large pot belly indicative of self-serving greed and a chameleon-like skin for camouflaging itself among the lies and half-truths that it employs in order to survive.

Obviously, not all politicians are deserving of such characterisation; but, over the years, enough of them have so abused the privilege, confidence and honour bestowed on them by the people that they have lost the trust and respect that good leaders need. Truth be told, people see most politicians as individuals that beguile/use the citizenry to gain power and money for themselves and their cohorts. And, most so-called 'staunch' supporters remain affiliated with a political party out of fear, favour or financial reward. If the politician had nothing to offer except good, clean, unbiased governance, the animated, cheering throngs that we often see at political meetings and rallies would rapidly dwindle to a very few conscientious citizens.

We were promised a new paradigm but force-fed the same, old-fashioned, corrupt and destructive Jamaican politics instead. I hope that the politicians will do as Robert Nesta Marley suggested: " ... Open your eyes and look within ... ."

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