Courageous leadership needed – Pt 2

Esther Tyson, Gleaner Writer 

In an article titled “Courageous Leadership Needed” published in The Sunday Gleaner on October 7, 2007, I wrote:

“As a nation, we are at a critical juncture – the results of the general election show this; the tumultuous rising complaints against police injustice show this; the ever-increasing civil society groups speaking out against the injustices in the land show this; the voices bombarding the talk-show programmes show this; the proliferation of the TV discussion programmes show this. They have shown enough! The time has come for radical change in how we operate as a nation. The prime minister and his Cabinet need to put into effect every legislation, programme and strategy to effect the urgent changes that are needed.

“This change will require strong, participatory, inclusive, courageous and radical leadership. We need to operate within a new paradigm. I challenge this Government to be courageous to save this nation from its downward spiral. As Nelson Mandela says: ‘I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear’.

“Our leaders need to be courageous to change how we have functioned in the past. They need to not be afraid to step out and change the culture and ethos of our political life. Our prime minister began this process when he was courageous enough to be the only politician to acknowledge that he had associated with gunmen in the past. There are many others who have done so but who are now afraid to say so.

“Let us be courageous and, like Mandela, put our nation first, above party and above self-interest. Only then can we begin to operate in a new paradigm of unity and prosperity.”

Those words were penned after the present prime minister assumed his leadership of this country, yet they are still relevant almost three years later because not much has changed. The political parties are still playing their games and are not seeking consensus on what is best for this nation. Three years later, what has changed is that our citizens are even more aware that politicians generally lack truth and credibility. What has changed is that we feel a sense of hopelessness concerning the leadership of our political process. What has changed is that we are in a quandary as to find viable alternatives to the present system to lead our nation. What has changed is that as a people, we are completely disillusioned by the present political leadership. The latest RJR poll testifies to this disillusionment.

We have reached to this place because over the years, the political leaders have not held the concepts of truth and morality as being of paramount importance in determining how they function and carry out their responsibilities.

The practice of giving the country half-truths in an attempt to lull us into complacency by having us believe that we are receiving the whole truth is indicative of minds that are deceptive and lacking in integrity.

Mired in deception

It seems that the political old guard, then, has been shaped in a way of operating which is mired in deception and expediency. On both sides of the fence, this way of functioning needs to change. How are we going to do this? Are we going to throw out the older politicians? If so, where are the replacements? Are the younger politicians committed to truth and integrity? I see no evidence of this. So, as a nation, we are in a political quagmire. It seems clear then that the members of civil society need to continue to place pressure on our political leaders to change their modus operandi. They must be held accountable for their policies and their actions. I have no doubt that this stands true whether it is the Jamaica

Labour Party or People’s National Party in power. As the polls show, they are not much different from each other.

There are several pieces of legislation that need to be passed and implemented to ensure that the back of criminal activities is broken in this nation. I encourage the Parliament to expedite these laws to give teeth to the attempts now being made to deal with the culture of lawlessness so rampant in our society.

Another matter of grave concern at this present time is the dismantling of the garrisons. Let us not forget that there are garrisons on both sides of the political fence. What is being done to change these garrisonised communities? This reality in our Jamaican landscape needs to the dealt with. I am glad to see that pressure is brought to bear on how funds for political campaigns are garnered. This, however, is not enough. We also need to change how votes are garnered.

No longer can we accept that “all politicians are liad” and leave it at that. As civil society we must put pressure on them to abide by the principles of truth, honesty and integrity. They report to us, the society. We are the people who have put them there. They must understand that we have the power to take them out. If we do not maintain the pressure on the politicians to abide by the principles of truth and integrity, then they will continue the “same old, same old” practices.

I firmly believe that a people get the government that they deserve. If, then, we do not demand integrity in our leaders and remove them if they do not comply, we do deserve the corrupt, dishonest, self-serving politicians who now rule over us.

- Esther Tyson is principal of Ardenne High School, St Andrew. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.