Mark Wignall | Undue delay

On Thursday, September 5, the Integrity Commission despatched to Parliament a document that many in the nation were anxious to see. To many voters and non-voters, the investigation report, the ruling and special report were long awaited. The reports were sent for tabling.

At first we were told that none other than the prime minister himself had not yet completed questions asked of him about his filing for 2021. And that seemed to be dragging out much too long. At some later stage, what seemed to be a cavalcade of crazy joined the line. It was all about politicians known as the ‘illicit six’, and then to complete the total, the ‘illicit eight.’

The president of the People’s National Party (PNP) came out quite strong in defending his PNP members of parliament (MPs) and senators. All well he may. Quite frankly, all of that meant absolutely nothing if the relevant reports and addenda were not tabled. In other words, read out so that our citizens could be informed.

As in any polity, once reports of this nature are submitted to Parliament and what seems like deliberate dithering by politicians is employed, methods will be found to supply the citizens with their right to know even if some of those methods skirt the breaching of laws.

Today, as I write this, it is Thursday, September 12, exactly one week since the documents were submitted for tabling. Question. Why the undue delay? Parliament will not be in session but, knowing what has happened before, why should we hope for a speedy tabling?

So even though information has leaked, we cannot say that it is authentic as we are dealing with politicians and should never assume that their default position is to tell the truth. Which means that all politicians from both sides of the fence have spoken, and although Mark Golding has came out more strongly than those on the other side, we are still in the dark. In other words, abide by the law and you will be kept in the dark.

IS PNP GROUND GAME STILL ACTIVE?

This ought to be a special time for the opposition PNP as it keeps its annual conference. The PNP may not wish to admit it, but with an important by-election on the make in North East St Ann, which the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) intends to win, it is a bit of political embarrassment deliberately designed by Mr Holness and his political strategists to stick it to the PNP.

It goes like this. The JLP is saying to the Opposition: you have been caught napping. An important by-election is in the works, and you, the PNP are either too broke or just plainly electorally unprepared to participate. How are you about to spin it at the conference today? And still demonstrate strength? Problems.

I suspect that Marsha Smith, the outgoing JLP rep for North East St Ann was ‘nudged aside’ so that Matthew Samuda, who represents one of the next batch of future leadership stock could be properly positioned in that time when he needs to step up up for bigger things.

I have not seen any latest poll numbers for the PNP’s strength, but the very fact that Holness seems to be outmanoeuvring Golding tells me that the JLP may not be back where it was in 2020, but it has recovered somewhat.

JAMAICA CAUGHT BADLY NAPPING

In many of those travel advisories, I have had reasons to disagree with the Americans warning their citizens travelling to Jamaica that Americans inside all-inclusive hotels have been sexually abused and ambulance services are woeful at best. I have spent time in many all-inclusives. I have never observed any type of those happenings.

And then this happened as written by one of my readers.

In this case it was a Jamaican living overseas who visited his homeland. “He collapsed at the international airport in Montego Bay as he was departing Jamaica. The events described after his collapse astonished me. No employee at the airport helped the man initially. A fellow passenger helped him. It was 20, yes, 20 minutes before a nurse appeared on the scene. She did not act with alacrity. While the poor man lay dying, rather than trying to save his life, there was a discussion about who would pay a US$400 ambulance fee because Cornwall Regional Hospital had only one working ambulance. While the poor man was, basically, ignored, he died.” This is a tragedy of the most shocking order.

One newspaper report states that the man was robbed. The dead man. I can understand that not many in leadership may want to fully address this. Sure, our public officials have no interest in leaving this matter to fix itself, but here is the trap. Once they speak, it goes out in the public wash and into the international tourism market.

We are much better than this. About 15 years ago, I became ill with a pancreatic ailment. I was in an expensive private hospital. The GP there recommended that I do further tests at a well-known lab about three minutes from the hospital. I suggested to the doctor that I make Chupski drive me there.

The doctor said there was a protocol in place: an ambulance and a nurse to accompany me. I had to abide by the rules even though the cost was unpleasant.

The reader continued. “The JCF has a presence at the airport. Could the JCF not have rushed the man to a hospital or a medical facility? Is no one who works at the airport trained in CPR? Why is it that there are no protocols for this type of event?”

Our hearts are hardened by the cruelty that we inflict on each other on an almost daily basis. Maybe it has got to us. This is not a good look for Jamaica.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.