They lack vision; we perish

by Gordon Robinson

Empty inanities disguised as campaign claims only expose leaders' lack of vision.

I know. I said I wouldn't comment on the campaign. But I can't stomach the deluge of irrelevant, corrosive gibberish currently saturating local media. I must make one last attempt to curtail the contemptuous disregard for the electorate's intelligence.

First, please stop the silly, meaningless finger-pointing. Every time the PNP screams "JDIP!" the JLP shrieks "Trafigura!" This only proves both corrupt. We don't care who's more corrupt or who deals with corruption better than whom. We care about who'll fundamentally change the system to ensure that when officials of any government commit acts of corruption, we won't depend on the governing party to deal with it, however 'transparently'. We want a fully equipped process of independent investigation and prosecution that'll send the culprit(s) to prison.

Otherwise, whoever wins, Jamaica loses. Surely, Jamaica is the only nation where candidates for both parties include disgraced former ministers who resigned as a consequence of corruption scandals.

The PNP is still campaigning on its 18 years of 'achievement' in government. Silly me, I thought we had that campaign in 2007, as a result of which the PNP was booted. What we want to hear from the PNP is its future plans. How will those plans differ from, and improve upon, previously rejected plans/performance?

What has the JLP done for us - lately?

Not to be outdone, the JLP spends countless platform hours accusing the PNP of bad economic management. We're still hearing about FINSAC; negligible growth; massive devaluation. Here's a news flash for Young Andrew. This just in. We know. That's why the JLP won in 2007. What we want to hear from you is a list of the JLP's achievements. What has the JLP done for us - lately?

Is there something other than three years of negative growth; humongous debt; massive job losses; public-sector wage freezes; repeated breaches of contractual obligations to pay public-sector salaries; and a spirited defence of Dudus' constitutional rights resulting in international ignominy, civil unrest and the slaughter of 73 Jamaican civilians?

Both parties must stop the brainless, boring, baseless bashing. Both should be begging us for forgiveness and pleading their cases as to why they should be given yet another chance. Carpe diem.

That this isn't happening is proof of failed leadership. Leaders require the vision to see through illusions of political hype and gamesmanship. Leaders understand and deliver electors' needs. Only lunatics repeat the same errors and expect sudden success. If party leaders don't seize this day to change the way they communicate with us, they'll forever be condemned to historical anonymity.

Failure to change will see Jamaica likened to the West Indies cricket team, an unguided missile. Like that team, Jamaican political parties have no talent shortage. Young West Indian batsmen have recently emphasised this, proving, inter alia, that Chris Gayle needs West Indies cricket a lot more than West Indies cricket needs him. But no amount of talent can make a team with a Mickey Mouse captain succeed.

"Sammy plant piece a corn dung a gully

an' it bear till it kill poor ole Sammy.

Sammy dead, Sammy dead, Sammy dead oh

Sammy dead, Sammy dead, Sammy dead oh."

Despite perennial talk of turning corners, the rudderless West Indian ship barely eked out a lucky Test series win in Bangladesh (saved by rain in the first Test) and narrowly escaped an Indian whitewash despite an almost 600-run first innings in the final Test. The stumbling block is the leadership vacuum. Captain Mickey Mouse isn't malicious. He's in above his head.

"A no t'ief Sammy t'ief mek dem kill 'im .

A no lie Sammy lie mek dem kill 'im.

But a grudgeful, yes, dem grudgeful mek dem kill 'im"

I keep hearing that Mickey Mouse's talent is captaincy. Maybe. But, are we now appointing captains who can't make the team but can set fields because striking workers must be punished and 'scabs' rewarded? Yet, among those unable to make the team is Tamar Lambert, a superior captain, no picket-line crosser, and at least capable of occupying a crease. WICB's stubborn refusal to confess that the Captain Mickey Mouse experiment failed has dealt the team a double whammy. Now a team in rebuilding mode must compete one short.

Both political parties currently play one man short. Like WI cricket, the 'missing man' is their leaders' lack of vision. This means, as the legendary Eric Williams once remarked regarding Jamaica's withdrawal from Federation, "One from 10 leaves nothing."

Peace and love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.