The JLP is an Illegitimate Government

 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/an-election-mandate-with-grave-responsibilities_202853?profile=1096

Jamaica Observer

The Editor,

According to your columnist Father Nembhard regarding the recent election, 'The people have spoken resoundingly..'. With all due respect to Father Nembhard, the people generally speaking have NOT spoken because the vast majority of us did not vote. One may speculate why that is so. Covid 19, corruption, etc. The people I speak to say simply that government and its agencies do not impact their lives and when they do they only impact their lives in a negative way. The majority of Jamaicans are rushing to the exits, lining up at the embassies, abandoning the ship. Except for the favoured tribe at any one time, most people feel that they do not get any benefit from government. The question of 'Who Benefits' needs to be raised in any discussion about Jamaica.

Father Nembhard also '..suggested that the people were not in a mood for a change of Government.' Again, I say that only applies to that small percentage of the total population that voted for the JLP. Father goes on to say: 'We cannot build a vibrant democracy in a country where so many people sit on the fence.' I agree with the Reverend Father. I go even further, Jamaica does not have a 'vibrant' democracy, Jamaica is not a democracy at all! I define democracy as the freely given consent and support of the majority of the governed given to those who govern. How we measure that consent and support is supposed to be through an electoral system which gives legitimacy to those who govern. That is what 'a mandate' is. Therefore, I contend that the JLP government has no mandate, no credibility or legitimacy with the majority of us. The JLP government does not have any 'mandate' from the vast majority of us. Conclusion: The JLP government is an illegitimate government.

Father Nembhard asks whither the PNP? As far as I am concerned, the best thing the PNP can do is die and go away, never to return. This would create the political space for a new beginning. After a very promising start under Norman Manley, the PNP has failed us miserably by refusing to graduate us from the colony womb into being a developed nation. The PNP had its chances to really change Jamaica and its constitution but they refused to commit to that. Instead, under Michael Manley and others, they went the populist, clientelistic route with socialism sometimes sprinkled along the way. Other than tinkering with a few things such as lowering the voting age to 18, the PNP failed to lead the charge to move us from under the Queen with a Westminster system to full independence. The PNP is just as corrupt and clientelistic as the JLP. Some say, the PNP is even worse. The result of the election: the PNP is worse than the JLP.

The first past the post Westminster type of government which we inherited, does a terrible job of measuring the consent and support previously mentioned. Who benefits from our current undemocratic, inherited type of politics and government? The political establishment with its tribal leaders, their relatives, friends and cronies in the private sector support the current electoral and government system because they benefit from it. I personally prefer either proportional representation or consensus government without political parties. If we want to really have democracy in Jamaica, we need constitutional change so that we have a government that is legitimate, credible and one that has the consent of the majority. For obvious reasons, our tribal leaders do not want that so there is no partisan traction for it. If there is to be democracy in Jamaica, we cannot leave it to the current, corrupt, dishonest political establishment because that would upset their apple cart. If there is to be real change in Jamaica and not just band-aid solutions, civil society (church, private sector, the diaspora, etc.) is going to have to demand it. Not everyone can flee the sinking ship by emigrating like I did. To stretch a metaphor, there are not enough lifeboats for all the Jamaicans who want to leave the damned place. The only other lifeboats for many poor young Jamaican men are the gangs.... If the JLP does not make the changes to legitimize government in Jamaica, then the people who are stuck have the duty and the right to overthrow the system - by any means necessary. Paul Burke wants to waste time with 'political education'. The really easy way to achieve change would be for the private sector to use the lever of their funding and the other sectors of civil society to use their influence to steer the JLP. The other route is one to be avoided so the JLP, its friends and cronies in the private sector better tek sleep mark death. If yu tink yu hav problems with the gangs now.........The status quo is not sustainable. 'Grave responsibilities' indeed....

Raymond D. Grant
Research Director, EXILED
Canada Cell: (867) 445 - 2865

Immigrants, Migrant Workers and Refugees - Making the World a Better Place for All

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