Rebels without a cause
Published:Sunday | August 7, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
The energy is present, but the vision is not, or so it seems to many political observers. They are vociferous in their utterances, largely a booming echo of the sentiment of their political party, but deficient in mental vibrancy. They argue that they remain relevant in Jamaica's dynamic political culture.
"To be an effective advocate the leadership cannot be yes-men and lackeys," declares new president of the People's National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO), Junior Rose.
But on the face of it, their rhetoric does not match their action.
However, the youth leaders have a ready answer to this - the rapidly changing culture has influenced their roles in the political spectra.
"Politics worldwide has evolved over many years," declares Rose.
Referring to "young leaders who have been placed at the wheel in difficult times," Rose cites Barack Obama, who became president of the United States at 48, and David Cameron, prime minister of England at 43 years old, making their mark internationally.
Pipe dream
But is this reference merely a pipe dream for Jamaica, given the propensity of local political leaders to grip tenaciously to power at all cost?
"Many countries are characterised as mature democracies," Rose argues. "The role of youth organisations such as the PNPYO is pivotal in shaping and developing our political culture, ideologies and philosophies," Rose asserts.
Rose suggests that political youth organisations and their leadership should inspire hope in young people in particular and the nation in general.
"Political youth organisations should be properly represented and reflect strategic planning, policies formulation and articulation," he argues. "If we look at the Young Democrats of America and the Young Republican National Federation these youth arms advocate policy-based strengthening in education, economy, and employment inter alia."
If this is so, are local youth organisations carrying out their mandate?
"Things are very dynamic at the moment. Our primary focus has and will always be to put country before party," declares Delano Seiveright, president of Generation 2000 (G2K), an affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
Injecting politics
Despite his strenuous claim that G2K puts country before party, Seiveright could not resist injecting a little bit of politics in his comments.
"Frankly speaking, the country is on the right track and while Bruce Golding isn't perfect, well-thinking Jamaicans should realise and accept that the reform agenda being pursued by his administration is the best pathway to growth, stability and prosperity to all."
This political line has been crafted and repeated in advertisements under G2K's name.
G2K has come a far way since its inception in 1999.
Today, the organisation conveys the impression of a press release-churning machine, putting spins on party positions. They appeared 'visionary' in the launch at the Jamaica Conference Centre in December 1999.
Clearly nervous that the JLP was about to steal its youthful thunder, as the 2002 general election approached, a group associated with the People's National Party (PNP) established an organisation called The Patriots - led by Ludlow Rennicks and then Donovan Nelson.
The sheen from The Patriots was not as impressive as that of the G2K - signalling exciting times on the horizon.
No cohesive input
The JLP had by then, lost three general elections - unprecedented in Jamaica's political history.
The party's once vibrant youth arm - Young Jamaica - succumbed to the maladies of its party.
Devoid of the cohesive input of a youthful force, the party, fractured by the 'Gang of Five' then the western dissident episodes, the JLP was clearly ailing.
To add insult to injury, the energetic PNPYO continued to pulsate with energy.
Both major political parties were replete with veterans, running on their tickets as candidates.
The then PNP president P.J. Patterson had secured his second consecutive term and the third for the PNP.
Time was running out for the then JLP leader Edward Seaga.
With calls mounting for fresh blood in the JLP, Seaga gave his blessing to the birth of Generation 2000, which comprised the likes of the scholarly Panton.
It appeared then that a refreshing wind of change was blowing on the political landscape.
The formal launch was memorable as members presented papers and proposals on a range of issues of the day.
The fractious JLP finally seemed energetic, invigorated and revitalised.
Among a host of accomplishments over a comparatively short two-year period, the Panton regime was the production of a document Vision of Hope, Plan of Action.
An office was established at the JLP Belmont Road headquarters. A database centre was also set up.
Monthly seminars and town-hall meetings were convened and a public-relations team created.
Although different, G2K smacked of the thinkers of the revolutionary period of the PNPYO during the heady, ideological period of the 1970s that featured the likes of Paul Burke, Luis Castriota, Sheldon McDonald, Ruel Crooks and Dawn Lindo.
The 2002 general election came and went and everything changed including the wind of change.
The Patriots disappeared to re-emerge only when something hot was brewing. The PNPYO remained audible and visible, under the leadership of Basil Waite, Kern Spencer and Damion Crawford.
In recent times, a high-profile JLP official commented that Crawford was able to spin the youth in his party around his little finger.
But then Crawford resigned as PNPYO president, after he failed to secure the Northern Trelawny ticket.
Highly ranked PNP officials are of the view that Crawford has the making of a brilliant strategist, but is too self-centred and impatient.
Strategically shifted
As 2007 election approached, the visionary-oriented G2K was transformed with lightning speed into an election machine.
G2K admits that the organisation strategically shifted to a political structure, with a president and four vice-presidents.
Since then, G2K has been led by three other presidents and with the passage of each leader, the group became more political.
Today, Seiveright has taken over the mantle of leadership of G2K.
With the change of leadership over the years, every remnant of the original G2K disappeared.
But Seiveright maintains that the organisation is one of thinkers and not a propaganda machine. "It is our mission to facilitate a process of transformation in Jamaica through an organised and effective Jamaica Labour Party," said Seiveright.
Rose suggests that youth organisations within political parties should be the conscience of that party and the last bastion of trust, hope and truth for the people of that country.