The dying kick

Barry White, Contributor

AS THE dust over Tivoli Gardens slowly settles, the anger and disappointment of the Jamaican people continue to rise. The outcry of civil society for accountability, oversight bodies and resignations, are but a knee-jerk reaction of a nation in deep crisis.

Looking below the surface of current events, it becomes apparent that among the explosions we heard during the incursion of the security forces into Tivoli, was Jamaica's version of the Westminster model administering a really hard kick to the bucket. We also heard the explosion of the massive boil of our dysfunctional political system that has been festering for more than 40 years, splattering puss over the governing party as well as the Opposition.

Unless we take a holistic view of our affairs, in attempting to resolve an issue, we run the risk of causing even greater problems. The Coke extradition/Manatt controversy has consumed much of the country's energy leading to the widespread call for the prime minister and the entire Government to resign. However, we must now ask ourselves, "After the Government steps down, then what happens next?"

Unpopular policies

Since assuming power, the present Government has implemented some most unpopular policies to tediously pull the economy out of the gully into which it had fallen. The economy is, however, still teetering on the edge of the precipice, and only continued tight fiscal management will ensure the economy returning to future growth.

Whereas an abrupt end to the present Government would bring immediate relief of the pain we feel, we would then be faced with a period when the Government ceases to effectively function while the country frantically prepares for new elections. A high probability of the economy falling into a deep abyss would emerge, out of which we may never extricate ourselves for generations.

If the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) loses the elections, the People's National Party (PNP), with more than its fair share of garrisons and previously poor performance in Government, would assume state power. If the PNP losses, the JLP, despite the current controversy, will be returned to power. Then, it's business as usual - checkmate Jamaica.

Lets face it, with the expeditious and fair conclusion of the extradition matter, as well as the proper diplomatic initiates, any fallout can be repaired in short order. What jumps out at us through this holistic view, is the urgent need for constitutional reform.

Dr Lloyd Barnett has headed a constitutional committee for more than a decade and developed a blueprint of a new Jamaican constitution. Without any further deliberations, I suggest we adopt this draft and proceed to implement it without delay. Civil society should now embrace the tsunami of public anger and frustration and take a quantum leap over the present controversy, and turn this massive fire on constitutional reform. If we do not catch this wave, we may never get another in our lifetime.

Here is a practical road map to this objective:

Appoint a Constitution-Implementation task force of 20 of Jamaica's non-political movers and shakers, headed by Dr Lloyd Barnett, Dr Carolyn Gomes and Susan Goffe.

It is important that the government and opposition be omitted from the process, as their shenanigans over the last 30 years have made it clear that neither party has any intention of implementing meaningful constitutional change. The Government and Opposition are our servants and there are occasions when the boss must move the servants aside to restructure the organisation.

The next general elections are due in 2012. Schedule the constitutional referendum for six months prior to the general election date.

Instruct our servants in Parliament to enact the necessary laws and procedures to authorise the holding of the referendum - or else!

The task force should work directly with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica to organise the referendum. In view of the widespread public demand over a long period of time for a new Constitution, I am confident Jamaicans will vote a resounding yes.

Hold the general elections on the due date based on the new Constitution and, thereafter, my fellow citizens, we simply take it from there.