As Shaggy'd say, 'It wasn't me'

By George Davis

Last Thursday's ceremonial opening of Parliament was as low-key and deflated as a goat thief's funeral in a rural Jamaican community. Sure, those who had to be there were present, but the people who usually make such an event a memorable occasion stayed away in their numbers.

One media report from a journalist who was at Gordon House remarked that there weren't even as many as 15 costumed supporters for government and opposition combined. There were no babies for our prime minister and opposition leader to kiss and no soiled hands for our parliamentarians to shake.

Hell, The Gleaner apart, there wasn't even that big a fuss about what our leaders wore this year, nor snide remarks about who would've looked better had they worn a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

There are many who will say much shouldn't be made of the absence of the partisans from Gordon House, citing the fact that MPs lacked the resources to organise the kind of attendance usually associated with the start of the new parliamentary year or that, simply, the fans were asked to stay at home by their leaders in recognition of the tough times we are in.

However it is spun, it appears to me as if the no-show of the usual partisan support is another indicator that Jamaicans are wising up to the fact that many of those who sit inside Gordon House are not what they are advertised to be.

There is huge potential in many of the youngsters sitting as MPs and senators. And there is bark yet in a few of those with lots of iron in their hair. But many of those who are now merely faces in the crowd, devoid of intellect and usefulness, were once young, promising and bright.

Even worse than the has-been lot is a coterie of parliamentarians who would never recognise intellect, utility or common sense if it appeared on their lips as a cold sore. When Jamaicans see these folks in action it's no wonder that we are so rapidly losing interest in the political process and shedding respect for the distinguished office of parliamentarian.

TAKING CREDIT CONVENIENTLY

We have fallen into penury as a country partly because of a lack of real integrity in our political leaders and their failure to assume responsibility for the mess Jamaica is in. Our political leaders will take credit for every single positive thing which has happened in Jamaica since independence. Yet they'lll disown every evil that has been visited upon this country's economy and social well-being over the comparable period.

They'll take the credit for the achievements of Ottey, Campbell-Brown, Hemmings, Bolt, Fraser-Pryce and company, even though those athletes will tell you they saw no politician when they were struggling to build their careers. They'll take the credit for a student from their constituency who has racked up distinctions in the Caribbean exams, despite not extending even a pencil as assistance during the battle to remain in school.

They'll claim credit for our performance at the recent London Olympics but disown FINSAC. They'll disown the irreparable damage done to local producers by the infiltration of local market by cheap imported goods. They'll disown the destruction of the productive sector to facilitate the government-paper industry.

They'll disown the mistakes which crippled the country at the time of the Dudus saga and distance themselves from the tribalisation of the politics in the 1970s and '80s. They'll take credit for the qualification of the Reggae Boyz to the 1998 World Cup but disown the failure to build even one dedicated football stadium of world-class standard in the 15 years since that historic accomplishment.

Our leaders will swiftly claim those of us who excel in our given field but disown the system which prevents the emergence of more success stories in those fields.

Their greatest trick, however, is to disown the failures in their time as MP when they come soliciting support for a new term in office. I can't wait to give them ownership of several pieces of cloth when they come calling again.

Selah.

George Davis is a journalist. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and george.s.davis@hotmail.com.