dem tek wi fi eediat....

 https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/a-not-so-happy-birthday-pnp_232014?profile=1096

The political establishment's vision for Jamaica is a country with a robust tourism sector that enriches the tourism moguls (mostly foreigners) while Jamaicans who can get jobs in the tourism industry, work for peanuts under terrible working conditions. I used to visit Jamaica and talk to the resort workers......Those who can't be employed in the tourist sector must work in call centre sweat shops - again for peanuts. Di rest? They don't really care and have no plan for...Dem cyan dead for all dem care...

The political establishment flails about having few options so they focus on enriching themselves. To sever the ties with the corporate class or tourism moguls may cause that class to flee to neighboring countries - taking their capital with them. That's what happened to Michael Manley who didn't really, just hinted at it. I was there. I saw it and the destabilization that followed. The political establishment in Jamaica is enfeebled and corrupt. The political establishment sold out to the corporate elite long ago. The union arms are withered and powerless. Whenever I have had the privilege to encounter him, Golding seemed to me to be a gentle, nice, decent man. He should have followed in his father's footsteps and been a doc - like his father - who happened to be my doc when I was a child with deformed feet. But, instead, he is a loyal member of the corporate and political elites. If Golding really wanted to rebuild the party, like Michael Manley, he should turn to the union arm. He will not simply because his loyalty is to the corporate class, a class which wants the union movement to continue to wither and die. One cannot blame Golding. He is what he is so the crisis of leadership in the PNP will continue. Golding, like all of the political elite, are set for life. That is the nature of our politics and that is why the politicians bring their wives and children into the political fold. The Jamaican people know this and support for the PNP is withering so eventually, they will have to do something about Golding. What has surprised me is that Jamaicans have tolerated this situation for so long. I had thought that Jamaicans would not have allowed 'the Babylon system', (the lack of political representation and poor governance) to continue but I was wrong. Instead, as many as possible, like me, have emigrated. The rest? They just turn their backs on the political process and don't even bother to vote. However, turning our backs on the political process is not sustainable and will not make the problem go away. Politics affects everything - whether we like it or not. I predicted that the Covid crisis would bring Ja to the abyss and yet, the country soldiers on. Amazing! Jamaicans, despite our unruliness, our indiscipline, are truly a tolerant people....maybe it is time for us to be less tolerant? Maybe the recent UIC and Karen Cross demonstrations mean that 'the lumpen' are getting restless?

Raymond D. Grant

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