The best way forward

by Garth A. Rattray

When asked who I thought was going to win the general election, without interjecting my personal preference, I responded that it looked to me that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was probably going to take it.

It seemed to me that the People's National Party (PNP) had not projected itself enough. It didn't seem to offer enough of a distinct and viable alternative to topple the incumbent administration. I reasoned that the JLP was on an upward popularity swing given the momentum of the 'Andrew factor'.

I also felt that because of our current financial problems, the worldwide economic depression, being eyeball-deep in debt and piloted by the International Monetary Fund, the impending economic hardships were unavoidable, no matter which political party prevailed. I was, therefore, surprised that the PNP was able to gain the confidence of the people and especially surprised that they did so with such a convincing margin. Until the campaigning began in earnest, they were relatively low-key but rallied to stymie any aspirations that Mr Holness entertained of getting his own mandate.

Predictable apathy

The low voter turnout (of 52 per cent) was predictable. Most people with whom I spoke did not bother to get registered to vote (out of disdain for Jamaican politics) or simply did not vote (because they saw no fundamental differences between the major political parties).

Many disenamoured Labourites and uncommitted voters from the middle class would have voted for the PNP but confessed their disquiet with Portia Simpson Miller's political persona. They felt that she lacked the depth necessary for a prime minister and pandered to a select group of citizens that did not include and were not representational of them (the middle class).

From all indications, the JLP only managed to squeak by the PNP to win the September 3, 2007 general election because it chose to ignore the dual-citizenship rule enshrined in the Jamaican Constitution. The self-styled 'Chief Servant' dashed the expectations that the Jamaican people had for fulfilment of his campaign promise of cohesiveness, cooperation with the Opposition, transparency and honesty.

The same old protectionism and corruption persevered and climaxed with the utter betrayal that the people felt when their prime minister committed political suicide (for himself and his party), caused nationwide mayhem, brought us international embarrassment and the loss of dozens of lives because of one JLP stalwart (who eventually confessed, in a United States federal district court to racketeering conspiracy, trafficking in large quantities of ganja and cocaine and approving the stabbing of a ganja dealer in New York).

No message of hope

The party also came across as didactically cloying on matters of governance and often arrogant when issuing pronouncements to the citizenry, who apparently could do no better. Heavy-handed dealings with and threats to civil servants, swipes at journalists and intellectual commentators and phrases from the PM like, "Aligning the variables in the macro environment" certainly didn't help.

Perhaps worst of all, the JLP gave the people no hope and only offered possible fiscal redemption at the end of a very long, dark and painful tunnel filled with "bitter medicine".

The JLP 2011 manifesto (Building On Our Achievements ... A Better Way Forward) spoke to the party's 'major achievements' - every one of the 24 categories was appended with 'The Way Forward' - proposals/promises of policies, initiatives and futuristic agendas.

The best way forward for the PNP and the country is for the party to provide tangible hope for survival and recovery, with minimal suffering, by honouring the solemn promise made by Mrs Simpson Miller to work with and through the people.

Jamaicans are extremely resilient and adaptive, but our people need motivation, realistic goals and the promise of basic (fiscal and physical) security. Only an interactive, transparent, caring, humble and honest government can recruit the citizenry and surmount these trying times.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.