Ronald Thwaites | Cruelty and self-deception

Deliberate, life-sapping cruelty is the worst sin. When cruelty is elevated to national policy, it robs the perpetrators and their agents of all legitimacy and right to respect. To force refugees, women and babies too, without due process, back to certain danger in a gang-infested country, is extremely cruel. That is what we are doing to the Haitians. This is makes us clones of Trump.

We are spitting on humanity, the debts of history and law. What if America did this to the tens of thousands of undocumented Jamaicans? How will those of us who cause or condone such cruelty face certain final judgment before God?

“Do not crush the afflicted at the gate for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them” (Proverbs 22:23)

NO TO CLOISTERED JUSTICE

Full appreciation for Chief Justice Sykes in his support for our adoption of the Caribbean Court of Justice to replace Dr. Holness’ Privy Council. There is everything appropriate and timely for the head of the judiciary to express himself about anything which affects the pursuit of justice in Jamaica. It is only those whose stubborn leaders have backed them into self-doubting support of the British Raj (rule – in Hindi) who will complain.

Let us face the sad fact: the process of constitutional reform has fizzled. Witness neither interest nor discussion on the mis-named “consensus” report. How much more is this disappointing effort costing us?

Law and justice are contextual in their application. Equity is not served by narrow positivism. The continuing cruelty and unfairness of a legal system, though improved, but still inherently discriminatory on the basis of class, colour, creed and wealth, cries out for redress. Let us wheel and come again with constitutional reform. But this time no government should dare to second-guess the priorities of the people.

CHANGE FROM THE BASE

The great forward surges of our people – the slave wars, the labour movement and anti-colonial struggles- have been propelled by those who refused to accept cruelty, inadequacy and injustice as normative or god-ordained. I am hoping this spirit will infect the leaders of the education system. Meeting recently with a cross-section of administrators and school governors, it was surprising (and disheartening) to realise how few were familiar with the Patterson Report and the draft of the revised Code of Regulations. They were much more aware of the slew of bulletins and directives issued by the Ministry. This frame of mind cannot assist transformation of a badly defective school system.

The strength of Patterson Commission was its composition, drawn from all elements concerned with and delivering education. A greatly over-burdened central bureaucracy is unable to be the chief catalyst for change. The deliverers and receptors of the product in the schools and broader society must lead. Having more power reposed in a Minister and permanent secretary, as the revised code proposes, will aggravate rather than solve the problem of poor outcomes.

Just try to get a teacher added or subtracted from the establishment or to fulfil an urgent request for refurbishing bathrooms at Holy Trinity High School or building out a promised infant school in Hanover.

The churches and trusts which have provided the foundation of the education system and are the guarantors of its pockets of excellence are treated as anachronism by the code drafters. Efforts by the Ecumenical Education Committee to refashion the partnership between private interests and the state have been ignored and dismissed.

No government could afford to purchase or pay rent for the human resources, real property and capital inputs invested in schools by churches and trusts. So why the contempt? It is because we operate a political and social system which cultures the arrogant supremacy of the winner, the iniquity of the loser and a disdain for the partnerships, old and new, essential to curbing the really big problems which people face.

INSTITUTIONALISED INDIFFERENCE

Last week I had to interface with a public institution for a particular service on behalf of someone living overseas. The obstacles which prevented a simple transaction from proceeding quickly would have tested Job’s patience. The incident is typical, not exceptional. It robs people of money, productivity and satisfaction. Our tendency is to use power to disable rather than enable; to confuse rather than clarify. God help the person who doesn’t have an ‘insider’ friend.

And please don’t think I’m picking on government services only. The whole nation needs a “bath” when it comes to respecting others; finding happiness by enabling others to flourish. That was the ethic of the free village – with all its shortcomings. How can we help to recover that spirit again?

HURTING OURSELVES

In that vein, don’t we owe an apology to the visiting surgeon, Dr Brady and his team who, by his unrefuted account, was ignored and frustrated in relation to adequate operating facilities at the Children’s Hospital while there to share their expertise by performing life-altering surgeries? Will they ever come again?

Also what of the patients who must continue to suffer? The catch-up public relations effort didn’t work. If local technicians can’t fix air conditioners and hospital apparatus, expertise from Miami should be available on any of the ‘five flights a day’. Disappointed: and particularly troubled that we can’t admit when we bungle and hasten to correct with zeal and without recrimination.

Disappointment is much too mild an expression to describe the evasive, loss-confirming, graveyard-like atmosphere of the creditors meeting for Stocks & Securities (SSL) Limited last Friday. There is very little hope for those who have lost so much. The cost of the funeral for the SSL corpse will nyam most of the whatever cash can be recovered.

The government agencies which were supposed to regulate financial institutions never deigned to attend the meeting. Neither did the managers who would have had to supervise the fall-girl, Ms Panton and who must know about and be responsible for the missing $4 billion. There is obviously a lot to hide. Crucial audits which could help creditors trace their money are to remain hidden. The smell like at the autopsy of a long-decomposing body, pervaded.

Just asking: what would be the fate of the Jamaican tourist industry if workers were allowed the basic human right of free association, that is, to join a trade union?

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