Ronald Thwaites | Respect due

You should have seen the genuine friendship between the likes of P.J.Patterson, Peter Phillips, Bruce Golding, Mark Golding and Daryl and Ann-Marie Vaz at the launch of Diane Austin-Broos’ masterful story book of Wills O Isaacs and his times. The embraces were not Judas kisses. Rather they were the exchanges of persons appreciative of others drawn towards service, albeit often seriously flawed, to this nation.

CONTRIVED DISUNITY

Hypocrites – past and present? I say No. Rather, men and women, often contorting their best nature, operating in a context which forces them to disfigure good intention in search of power – a seductive passion which will elude them by the very means of pursuing and obtaining it.

Our political system cultures antagonism when we should be encouraging cooperation. Well learned mentoring of Willie Lynch’s control model and our follow-fashion of the political form of the colonial power, have set our teeth against each other.

FOOLING OURSELVES

This is the season of nasty rhetoric. The vicious, cheap and cowardly anonymity of social media has multiplied the opportunities for us to curse and deride each other, all contributing irreversibly to the debasement of the same “Brand Jamaica”, to burnish which we are going to buy the expensive services of foreign consultants. But to do what, Dr. Holness? To tell us what we ourselves – “mi an’ unno” - are causing? “The fault”, dear Andrew et al “lies within ourselves”.

SELF-DISTRACTION

Take last week as a regular example. We should have been sweating about the scourge of illiteracy, the diarrhoea of guns and ammunition; the waste on the one hand and the constipation on the other, of public funds, the flight of our talented youth and the increasing impoverishment of the majority. These are all problems which cry out for systemic change and national consensus. Instead the Prime Minister is heard deriding “18 years of PNP rule” while the PNP would tar every member of the government as corrupt apparatchiks.

Where does any of this advance the national cause? We end up telling lies to ourselves, and worse, believing them. Truth becomes what we want it to be.

OUR ‘BRAND’

Only a few weeks ago we were led to believe that ‘Brand Jamaica’ was so strong as to be virtually untouched by the negative US travel advisories. Now we have to hire consultants to curb the rot we were told never existed.

Every newscast sees no contradiction between reports of declining crime rates while the rest of the same newscast is all about more barbaric incidents and tales of injustice at the hands of those responsible for protecting us.

RUNNING SCARED

For some of the falsifiers, their jobs are at stake should the government change, and they are terrified. Big money and prestige are involved. Political service is honourable although some of us are working hard to prove otherwise. Be assured: there is life and usefulness after the limelight of office has suffered a blackout.

Division is neither a guarantor of democracy nor the linchpin of our freedom. Look at the stunted progress we are inflicting on ourselves.

NIGEL AND MARK

Nigel Clarke’s presence at Lady Golding’s funeral last week was a gracious gesture. She was Mark’s mother. Brotherly relations between two highly competent men rightly superseded the silly brickbats of the past across the Gordon House aisle. Just as at the Wills Isaacs book launch, respect for the efforts of worthy political representatives prevailed. Truth be told, Jamaica would be best served if Mark were to succeed Nigel- preferable to any of the other choices available.

But that can’t happen, eh. Why? Not because there are irreconcilable policy differences but because, according to the ill-fitting gospel we believe in, it is green time now and orange can have no talk.

COOPERATION IS NOT SELL-OUT

Let’s be clear. I accept the healthiness of differing opinions and policies and the absolute necessity for critical focus. I have a very clear party preference. But all that does not justify the present path. A fair look at our stalled development objectives must lead us to want to create a system where many views contend cooperatively and share wisdom and power so that Jah kingdom does not waste any more.

Wills Isaacs was a past master of the rhetoric and posturing of both development and division. But within and beyond that, he had the maturity, capacity and national spirit, often to the distress of PNP tribalists of his day, to relate to all classes and to earnestly try to bring their efforts towards focused productivity. His success in stimulating manufacturing , laying the foundations of the tourist industry and standing on principle to initiate the trade embargo against apartheid South Africa, witness to the breadth of his anti-colonial, nationalist character. His story has been rightly and critically lauded by political leaders of both parties. Why can’t this happen normatively – now?

WORRISOME

Take note of the outgoing minister’s concern about out-of-control overtime expenditure in the public sector. Not only is this very elusive to budget for, but is just another way that cost and reward escalate unrelated to productivity.

Then there was the embarrassing public stand-off between Minister Chuck and Chief Justice Sykes concerning the run-down state of courthouses. Both officers are a telephone call away from each other. How could it be that the public using these sacred facilities seem to know and care more about their condition than those well paid to be responsible for their maintenance?

We have become so adept at finger- pointing and tolerating inferior service; substituting process for substantial outcomes, that we sell ourselves short by discounting and disputing the worth of others.

Check the current Don Anderson poll findings and realise that our emperors are nearly naked!

Rev Ronald G. Thwaites is an attorney-at-law. He is former member of parliament for Kingston Central and was the minister of education. He is the principal of St Michael’s College at The UWI. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com