Mark Wignall | Wrong direction, JLP

The sadistic marriage that politicians entered with criminals and gunmen decades ago has bred some evil children. In politics, you can criticise your opponent, you can stretch the truth, you can manipulate statistics, you can distract, you can be entertaining. But racism and bigotry are a red line politicians should never cross.

Does Jamaica, a country with a very violent history and present history of violence, need another incendiary bomb like that to go off. Members of parliament (MPs) Warmington and Cuthbert-Flynn emphatically state that they will not allow white ‘Britisher’ Mark Golding to rule them.

In one week, 44 Jamaicans were murdered. Hurling racial and racist epithets at white-skinned president of the People’s National Party (PNP), Mark Golding, will not get us any closer to slowing down our macabre dance with violence and death.

One Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) party worker, who I spoke with last Wednesday, like most diehards, defended the criticisms. “Dem did cuss Seaga in dem song, ‘My leader born yah’. So it fair.”

One would have thought that we would have left that in the past and moved on to a better mode of practising our political discourse. And, of course, we would have hoped that MP Warmington, in this senior time in his life, would be seen as teacher and mentor to Cuthbert- Flynn. But I suppose we can dream. The crass behaviour of the veteran is baked in and unchangeable.

Think about this. The JLP has been trying to prime the pump of the people on politics. One gets the sense that, if the party wants to run on its record, on achievement-based government, the party would have no need to engage in racism to score points with the electorate.

This may sound crazy but it seems that the JLP team has tied its lot to Donald Trump and the Republicans. The JLP saw where the Republican strategy paid off this last election in the US, and see it as a path to victory. Is that what we want?

Be racist, say outrageous things, lie, distort the truth all the time. What has been the result? A deeply divided America.

Most of those in the electorate are concerned about economic matters. ‘No money in mi pocket’. Seems as if I have been hearing that complaint since the 1970s. And, of course, ‘too much killing’ has always been a part of the complaints.

And, if JLP diehards are all too ready to applaud the racist barbs hurled at Golding, it is useful to remember that he was born in Jamaica while Seaga was born in the US. So far, I have heard no statement from Prime Minister Holness strongly indicative of a firm pushback at that line of political discourse. I suppose that, while the PM is trying his best to prime the pump, he will allow Warmington his usual gutter politics and bilge water.

SILENCE FROM MR HOLNESS

The JLP must feel quite desperate to be having the likes of Warmington spew such evil sentiments. I cannot imagine the circumstances that would justify what the MP said. But, said it he did, and, based on the overwhelming applause and lack of pushback from the prime minister, the message has been passed on that it is open season from now and all the way into next year, as the political season heats up.

Is it useful for us to ask ourselves if it is okay for the PM to support such vile behaviour? Or is it that that level of mature pushback is not to be found in the top rungs of the JLP.

One reader who lives in the US said, “Warmington’s racism hits me hard because, for all the years I have lived in the US, I have always condemned America’s racism, bigotry and oppression of black people and minorities. And I have said Jamaica is not like that. I was proud to point out that Jamaica is not like that. I have pointed out that we had a white prime minister and black prime minister and PMs of mixed races. We Jamaicans are a magnificent blend of races.”

But, of course there is always Warmington to shoot off from the mouth without first engaging the brain.

Warmington conveniently forgets history. Edward Seaga, a white man, led the JLP and was PM of Jamaica. The late Professor Carl Stone once rated Seaga as Jamaica’s best PM. Of course, those who idolised Michael Manley would not agree with him.

Why was Warmington conveniently not offended that an America-born white man ruled Jamaica in the 1980s. So, Seaga was an acceptable white man but Golding is not? Not condemning Warmington and sanctioning him harshly is a mistake. What he said was wrong. The failure of the JLP to condemn him was wrong. The failure of the PM to speak against what Warmington said is wrong. Silence equals agreement.

It is known that politicians are rarely, if ever, at their best whenever the heat of the political podium begins to singe them. Plus, for a political party and leader like PM Holness that are way too willing to speak of its achievements and records, someone like Warmington should be absent. And someone like Dr the Hon Andrew Holness ought to stand strong on principle, ought to make his voice be heard. Even at this 11th hour.

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