Portia's 40th year and counting

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

There is a rather curious social dialectic at play in some quarters of this here fabled island, that if it were not so tragic, one might even find it comical. Sadly, this is also emblematic of the self-hate that has a new generation so dissatisfied with their skin colour, they have resorted to the extreme, by using dangerous chemicals, to 'lighten' their skin and thereby achieve the desired results of becoming the preferred 'browning'!

In this respect, those who bleach and those who sit on their verandas in the gated enclaves of upper and lower St Andrew and often spout empty but profound-sounding 'insights' into the social and political ills supposedly affecting the society, but are studiously oblivious of their role in the status quo, would make for a most amusing pantomime, even though those from the gated enclave would shudder at the mere thought or even suggestion that they have a lot in common with the hated and belittled masses who congregate - in slums below the clock.

Sadly, both groupings are bound by the bond of self-hate - just as the youngster who 'rub' is seeking to expunge his offending natural tan, there are those who oppose and or 'hate' Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, not because of policy differences, political incompetence and or corruption, (and let's be clear here, to date none of her naysayers have accused her of being a corrupt politician); they hate her, because she reminds them of who they are and from whence they come!

In other contemporary cultures, and our great northern neighbour comes to mind, the story of Portia Simson Miller, a young girl from rural Jamaica, who made her way to the big city of Kingston to seek her fortunes, and rose to the top of one of the foremost political think-tank and parties, which has always been a bastion of intellectual prowess, would have been lauded, celebrated and many a movie and or documentary created to capture the inspirational story that such a feat represents.

Alas, this is Jamaica, where many are afflicted with a peculiar kind of malady, known to Jamaicans as 'bad mind' and her sibling, 'grudgeful', so the feat of Mrs Simpson Miller is not seen as one to be celebrated, but one to be denounced, heaping malice upon her in the process. Interestingly enough, for those with high social status, the reason they oppose Mrs Simpson Miller is pretty much as a result of the same by-product that caused a Portia Simspson Miller to dare to dream and in dreaming attain her ambition.

Many of those who oppose Portia Simpson Miller do so in language coached and packaged in supposed classism, affected snobbery, and even buffoonery. But, in a society where skimmed milk often masquerades as crème, one can easily understand the opposition of the pettite bourgeoisie to Portia Simpson Miller, who, by dint of hard work, devout dedication and embracing her humble background instead of manufacturing ones to fit the new and glitzy surroundings now occupied by the nouveau riche has risen to the highest platform in the land.

In part, one of the multiplicity of reasons the JLP lost the last general elections and so badly, was the fact that it too played the class card, and in doing so was perceived as talking down to the majority and rubbishing the dreams and aspirations of the many who identify with the gargantuan achievement of Portia Simpson Miller, in her journey from the hinterland of the St Catherine 'bushes' to the highest seat of power in this region!

Little wonder, then, that to officially commemorate her 40 years of service as an elected official, Portia Simpson Miller went back to her political roots, to celebrate - the Spanish Town Road location of her first victory as a PNP councillor, in a seat the hierarchy of the PNP thought unwinnable, and so she was thrown in as a lamb for the slaughtering, but due to her tenacity and precociousness, confounded her party and most certainly the JLP, in winning the unwinnable seat!

And so, 40 years later, Portia Simpson-Miller, is at the top of her political game, as steward-in-chief of the nation. Her constituents are still as devoted to her politically as ever, despite the many challenges that confronts inner-city communities and constituencies such as hers.

But in attending the commemorative reception and cultural showcase hosted by her constituency in honour of the special occasion, one could not help but note, whilst to her detractors Portia Simpson Miller is anathema to their existence, to her constituents - and they are replicated in every nook and cranny across Jamaica - Portia Simpson Miller represents a very strong and potent symbol of one to whom little was given, even much less was expected, but who triumphed against all the odds, and to many, this is the symbol that keeps them keeping on, in a land where, often, opportunity does not knock at every door.

And so it was, my dears, that the party's big wigs, political operatives, and hopefuls were all out, basking in the glow that emanates from the region's brightest political star, since the charismatic Michael Manley. And dears, it was not only wholesome, it was fabulously so!