Independents' day

By Din Dudgeon

The 'Labourite'

ON THE eve of Jamaica's 16th general election since universal adult suffrage, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) would have us believe that the man dubbed Prince Andrew represents Jamaica's foray into a bright, new future. At 39 years old, the prime minister is young and energetic. He represents a departure from our failed politics of the past. He is poised to preside over the change that Jamaicans have, for so long, yearned.

From where I stand, though - squarely among the very generation that Prince Andrew is called to inspire - that narrative appears largely illusory. Prime Minister Holness' very ascension is representative of the type of myopic maladministration that has brought us from being a young, hopeful nation, pregnant with the dreams and promise of a courageous and unrelenting people, to being a haggard, wayward country as likely to become a failed state as we are to achieve developed status.

The JLP squandered a brilliant opportunity to select, as its leader, Jamaica's brightest and most promising politician - Dr Christopher Tufton, a man who has a proven history of being innovative and independent-minded. Instead of giving Jamaicans a legitimate opportunity to elect a credible and capable premier, the party chose to go the old way of cheap gimmicks and political expediency - selecting a junior version of the old, prototypical Jamaican politician.

Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, like a proud mama, gushed that she was the one who first brought Prince Andrew into politics. Indeed, the prime minister is a graduate of the same Edward Saga school of politics from which Ms Grange emerged. 'Baby Bruce' - as some have mockingly dubbed him - is in many respects worthy of praise. He is undoubtedly bright and eloquent and, like his predecessor, displays a strong command of the issues facing Jamaica. For that reason, I would, without hesitation, give him my position as a columnist in this revered newspaper.

But Jamaica does not need a columnist to guide it through these dark, desolate days. We need a courageous and innovative leader capable of taking the tough decisions necessary to restore our proud nation's promise. Prince Andrew, having ruled over a stagnant, decrepit garrison community for over a dozen years, cannot, as evidenced by his own track record, lay any legitimate claim to being such a leader.

The socialist

One cannot mention garrison constituencies without mentioning Portia Lucretia Simpson Miller or 'Sista P', as she is affectionately called. If Tivoli Gardens is "the mother of all garrisons" Mrs Simpson Miller's SW St Andrew constituency is the deadbeat father. For 30 years, Mrs Simpson Miller has reigned supreme over one of Jamaica's most notoriously insolvent communities.

But we need not venture down to the 'gully side' of her garrison to uncover evidence of Sista P's inadequacy as a leader. Though she is, by many measures, the epitome of a strong, black, Jamaican woman - emerging from the ranks of a male-dominated political landscape to capture the leadership of her party and her country and the admiration and respect of many (myself included) - she has been an abject failure as a government leader.

As a senior member of government and Jamaica's seventh prime minister, Mrs Simpson Miller has, at best, stood by and casually observed as Jamaica descended into its current state of disrepair. At worst - given her senior leadership positions - she bears a great brunt of the blame for much of the country's woes. Despite her professed love for the people of Jamaica and her image as a crusader for common-folk, the proof of Sista P's legacy is in the Christmas cake - and hers - like many of her contemporaries in politics - has been a bitter one.

A wise man once said: "all politics is local". Tomorrow, at the national level, Jamaicans will be forced to choose the lesser of two evils. But locally, where it truly counts, we have options - 126 of them in 63 constituencies. In each constituency Jamaicans can and should send a message to their elected representatives: either put up or shut up; work tirelessly as humble servants of the people or go find another line of work. I urge voters to elect the parliamentary candidate who has worked or will work tirelessly for your needs. Reject the candidate who has failed you - regardless of his or her party alignment. Enter the voter's booth with an independent mind and a patriotic heart. Break free of the bondage of 'labourite' and 'socialist' politics and declare tomorrow Independent's Day.

Din Dudgeon is an attorney working as a consultant with a global legal search firm. Email him at columns@gleanerjm.comma or dinduggan@Gail.comma or view his past columns at facebook.comb/dinduggan and twitter.comma/YoungDuggan.