JLP must assert its relevance

Ronald Mason

Today is as good as any and better than most days to review the significance of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Today, the party celebrating 70 years of its existence is having a contested internal election for its leadership.

Andrew Holness, having been selected some two years ago, is being challenged by Audley Shaw. Holness, the young, tech-savvy cerebral, is being challenged by the visceral, aggressive, in-your-face 'Man a Yard'. Is this contrast of candidates significant by and of itself? I believe it is.

The low-key approach leaves the perception of inertia, lifelessness, a lack of willingness to fight for the causes most important to the JLP's membership. The membership wants to regain state power and fears that is going to be much more difficult because the base of the party is not engaged. The base is being implored to shed 'ray-ray' in favour of iPad releases. Today, that stance will be rejected or validated.

The challenger wants to be in campaign mode. Challenge the Government. Take it to Portia. Draw her tongue. The choice for the roughly 5,100 delegates could not be clearer. This path is predicated on some things that are not wholly within the control of the JLP challenger. He does not decide when a general election will be called.

The strategy of confrontation is hard to maintain for an extended period. The strategy of confrontation is very difficult to keep within a confined boundary. Do we remember what happened with the gas riots? The actions of a people under stress, whipped into a frenzy, is hard to predict.

Add to that the knife-edge balance of the economy. A national sense of breakdown of civility is dangerous.

The Constitution of Jamaica does not recognise political parties. Rather, the role of political parties is defined as Government and Opposition. The checks and balances are rooted in a multi-party Parliament. The major political parties have, for 75 or 70 years, honourably occupied the legislative roles. In Independence, the functions increased, and both have served us well.

We have never changed governments in any other manner than by the ballot. Never by the bullet. That is how it should continue to be.

TWO-PARTY CULTURE

That the two existing parties are deeply embedded in our culture can be illustrated by the intrusion of the National Democratic Movement (NDM). The NDM came into being with great fanfare, led by and exhibiting membership that was perceived to be competent, politically savvy, and intellectually gifted. It was well financed and its mission and vision articulated across the land.

However, I recall two events that were to speak volumes by the Jamaican people. The elections involving Barbara Clarke of the NDM in St Ann and the contested election of Bruce Golding, then of the NDM in St Catherine.

These two contests, from my perspective, indicated that there is a deep-rooted connection between JLP and People's National Party (PNP) with the people. No intruders will be tolerated. This was not a rejection of Bruce Golding. He went on to lead the JLP to electoral victory in 2007. The NDM is still with us, but has very little traction.

The JLP is significant to the country. We clearly do not all ascribe to its platform, but we clearly appreciate its attendance at and participation in governance.

The JLP has matters emerging that must be attended to. Let me illustrate. The election of December 2011 saw it nominating a candidate to contest the Eastern St Andrew constituency who had never been known to be politically active. Childbirth is the excuse being offered for the loss. How pathetic!

The candidate must be familiar to the people, accepting of the advice of the people, and be an articulate representative of the people. The Jamaican people are not lambs dumb to the slaughter. They have opinions and they demand to be heard.

What for the future of the JLP? I would recommend the National Partnership Council. I accept, and am aware of, the party not being signatory to the July 31, 2013 agreement. I congratulate the Labourites, however, on their participation in the deliberations of the council. It is a forum for discussing national issues and fostering collaboration and consensus. The party should join in nation building.

UNSOLICITED ADVICE

At the same time, here is my unsolicited advice. Rebuild the branch structure. Recruit and train candidates. The leadership question will be resolved at the end of the day. Become the intellectual challenge to the Government that you claim you can be. Prepare and present the position papers. Do not vacillate. Give us, the people, choice. Wheel and come again.

I stand ready to be proven wrong in this prediction. It is my opinion that the Audley Shaw camp will emerge victorious, but by a razor-thin margin. The 'ray-ray' worked with the delegates eager for some attention, but it will be pyrrhic for the restoration of team unity and the purging of less-valuable belligerent elements within the ranks.

Crass is not a winnable strategy on a national scale. Deal with the rich and brown, all uptown, and the poor and black downtown divisions. You need to be up, down all around everyone's party. The JLP has no significant ideological difference with the PNP at this stage.

The country needs a vibrant 70-year-old party. Step up to the plate, Labourites.

Ronald Mason is an immigration attorney, mediator and talk-show host. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and nationsagenda@gmail.com.