A house divided cannot stand

Contribution to the long-awaited report on why the JLP lost the 2011 from a spiritual perspective.

Steve Lyston, Contributor

The foundation of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) now needs to be revisited. There is a foundational 'crack' that it needs to examine. The JLP's problem is not the People's National Party (PNP) or anybody else's. It is within.

Any leader given the charge to lead the JLP, regardless of how bright he is and how young he is, the organisation is going to end up in the same problem.

It is similar to leading our nation. Regardless of who becomes prime minister of Jamaica, unless the core and foundational issues are fixed, then the same problems will arise. The foundations of both parties are long expired. God has a time and a season to do everything. It is critical to know the time and season and what each leader or organisation needs to do in each season.

The JLP must stop focusing on itself, stop neglecting the people and the voice of God. Trying to bring the change without allowing God to bring the change through them is political suicide.

If all the leaders within begin to look into themselves, recognise and accept their faults and make the effort to change, then they would have dealt with the stronghold that has been robbing the party for years a long time ago.

Regardless of who triumphs in the leadership race, unless they ask for God's help, repent, and try to unite in humility to bring healing within the party - gather all the past and present personnel for the benefit of the nation - more challenges are coming! If they don't change, then they will lose the next election and even become fragmented.

Undermining is one of the greatest factors affecting the JLP. Six strongholds in the party are causing the party to suffer defeat, and it has been happening for years. These persons are loyal to no one! They are self-centered. There is no way the former prime minister, Bruce Golding, could operate or be the success that he wanted to be with these strongholds in place!

If Bruce Golding had sought the Lord, put Him first, God would have given Him the wisdom to confront and free the party of these six strongholds.

The PNP is no real problem to the JLP. In fact, the PNP is an even better friend to them than these six strongholds!

WRONG TIMING

The party also lost, but not because of the 'Dudus issue', because that had little impact on the loss. Both parties have garrisons and dons and both parties benefit from that, so that could not be the issue.

If the party had called the election after February 2012, it would have won.

Bruce Golding made an error when he resigned. He should have sought God and stayed the course. Every leader makes mistakes and he never made any more grave than any other leader before him. He should never flee from the dinosaur.

Both he and Edward Seaga should have buried the hatchet and called everybody to a time of healing and repentance. There were still two factions in the party.

After he resigned, they squandered another opportunity and refused to seek God! There should have been an internal election at that time, and they should have put up their two best candidates for that period - Dr Christopher Tufton and Andrew Holness and then choose to see who God favoured! (Psalm 21).

political 'expertise'

When Andrew Holness became the leader of the party, it was not a matter of the political 'expertise' of a Portia Simpson Miller, nor was it the introduction of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme or another man's lack of experience that caused him to lose. God needed a leader who was willing to be broken, and in that instance, there needed to be a breaking and pruning.

God wants to move the nation away from the type of leadership style it has currently. God wanted a leader that would listen to Him and not try to fix things with his own intellect.

God was looking for a servant-type leader who is willing to listen to Him; one who was not afraid to call the nation to three days of fasting and prayer; one who would ask God for guidance and intervention within the nation to deal with the challenges ahead. (I Chronicles 1). When God finds that leader, regardless of the party, then you will see the change in the nation. God is no 'P'. (Psalm 75).

THE GRASS ROOTS

The foundation of the party was totally neglected - those from the real grass roots who helped to build the party and the nation.

The divestment of Air Jamaica and the sugar issue hurt the party significantly.

The public sector didn't want to hear the truth and they were unwilling to listen to the truth regarding reform. Had they sought God on how to communicate the information, then things might have been different. They weren't willing to make the change needed then in order to enjoy success today.

Disobedience and listening to the wrong advice also helped to seal the fate of the party. They should not have called any commission of enquiry. They should have first focused on healing and reconciliation before calling an election. (Mark 3: 25; Matthew 12: 25; Luke 11: 17)

Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.