It's time for Generation X

Delano Seiveright, Contributor

Generation X has for some time been making its mark on the world of politics. On September 25, a young speechwriter, researcher and former Cabinet minister, Ed Miliband, became leader of the United Kingdom's Labour Party and leader of the Opposition. At 40 years old, this comes in addition to a now fairly established trend in the United Kingdom (UK) of young (in political terms) persons taking hold of senior positions in government and political party structures.

Generation X generally refers to the generation born between 1961 and 1981. They come after the famous 'baby boomers' generation. Fortunately, The Gleaner highlighted the efforts of some members of Generation X recently in its 'Under 40' series.

The strides made in the UK are impressive. Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party at 41 and prime minister at 43. Oddly enough, the current prime minister, David Cameron, and deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, are both 43 years old and leaders of their respective parties. The chancellor of the exchequer (minister of finance), George Osborne, is 38 years old. The average age of Prime Minister David Cameron's Cabinet is 50.

I took more than a few minutes researching political demographics across several nations. Amazingly, the number of leaders in their 40s and very early 50s was mind-boggling and highlighted a growing disparity between developed and developing countries in respect of the ages of their political-leadership class.

Take, for example, the ages of prime ministers and presidents of some countries, very familiar to us, when they assumed office:

Barack Obama became president of the United States of America at age 47; Stephen Harper became prime minister of Canada at age 46; Felipe Calderon became president of Mexico at age 44; David Thompson became prime minister of Barbados at age 46; and Bharrat Jagdeo became president of Guyana at age 35.

notable example

Outside our region, some very notable examples abound:

Brian Cowen became Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland at age 48; Dmitry Medvedev became president of Russia at age 42; Jose Zapatero became prime minister of Spain at age 43; Lars Rasmussen became prime minister of Denmark at age 44; and Fredrik Reinfeldt became prime minister of Sweden at age 41.

Similar trends persist throughout the rest of Europe.

I found it worthwhile to research the leaders of the Caribbean and, unsurprisingly, found that many of our leaders are aged. With the exception of Barbados, Guyana and Dominica, most Caribbean leaders were born before, during or just after World War II. It would make for very interesting academic study to assess the reasons for this glaring disequilibrium when stacked against more developed nations. The Caribbean certainly has more than enough bright and talented 40 plus year-olds who are more than capable at leading our small-island states.

Jamaica's political history shows an eclectic mix as it regards the age of our political leaders upon assuming office:

National Hero, Sir Alexander Bustamante, in 1944, became unofficial government leader at age 60, and prime minister at Independence in 1962 at age 78;

National Hero Norman Manley, in 1955, became chief minister at age 61;

Donald Sangster, in 1967, became prime minister (short-lived) at 55;

Hugh Shearer became prime minister in 1967 at 43;

Michael Manley became prime minister in 1972 at 47;

Edward Seaga became prime minister in 1980 at 50;

PJ Patterson became prime minister in 1992 at age 56;

Portia Simpson-Miller became prime minister in 2006 at the age of 60; and,

Bruce Golding became prime minister in 2007 at 59.

With the exception of Michael Manley and Hugh Shearer, Jamaica's leaders assumed office at the age of 50 or above. Again, it should make quite worthwhile research for one to look into the reasons for this reality in our political system. What is, however, noteworthy is that our youngest (by political standards) prime ministers assumed office between 1967 and 1980 which is by far the most tumultuous time in Jamaica's post-independence history. A quick assessment of both political parties in the ideologically polarised 1970s, in particular, shows a strong presence of young people occupying positions of influence throughout the party structures.

the effects

This comes as no surprise as Jamaica in this period experienced political, social and economic tremors, the effects of which linger on today. The experiences and heightened consciousness of the 1970s is fully imprinted on almost every Jamaican born before independence. Incidentally, many of the young revolutionaries of the 1970s are the leaders of both major political parties today. Jamaica has, therefore, missed the boat as one generation, that being Generation X, are yet to take the reins of political leadership, as is evident in many progressive countries around the globe.

I don't doubt one bit that the 1970s is responsible for many of the social and economic ills we have as a country today. Whenever a discussion about the 1970s comes up, the temperature in the room suddenly changes. I missed out on the 1970s as I was born in the mid-1980s and I am, therefore, oblivious to the trauma inflicted on so many by that decade. Tremendous strides were clearly made in lifting the consciousness of the people and the levelling of  the playing field for the benefit of the marginalised majority through a series of economic and social policies. Sadly, however, the country's economy was devastated in the process, in addition to mass migration of the middle and professional classes. To make matters worse the revolutionary fervour of the time saw the rapid mushrooming of gun violence and political tribalism. Jamaica then entered into a vicious cycle of debt, economic stagnation, violence and persistent economic and mental poverty.

the 1970s disaster cannot be repeated

It is critically important that the generation that led Jamaica down this path, most of whom had no discernible interest or intention in having our country digress to this sordid position, must sooner, rather than later, seek to right the wrongs and seriously consider stepping aside sooner, rather than later. The 1970s is a disaster that cannot be repeated.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has, more than any other leader in Jamaica's political history, acknowledged the errors of the past and has actively sought, in a very well-structured and systematic way, to hit the reset buttons. Bruce Golding went as far as to leave his own party and form a new one focused on ultimately transforming Jamaica for the better. Thankfully, today the process of fundamental reform is on in earnest under the leadership of Golding and the Jamaica Labour Party government. In order for the reforms to be ultimately effective however, the unwavering support of the Opposition People's National Party is important. Civil society must also pressure, at all times, the Government and the Opposition into setting and sticking to critical timelines.

As pointed out some of these reforms include:

Measures to reverse the institutionalisation of political tribalism and garrisons;

Provisions for the impeachment of public officials;

Term limits for the office of the prime minister;

Vesting constitutional authority in the contractor-general and the Electoral Commission;

Laws to regulate political party financing;

Enacting into law certain provisions of the Political Code of Conduct with appropriate oversight and penalties for violations;

Criminal sanctions for breaches of award of contracts;

Parliamentary oversight in the appointment of certain statutory positions

In addition to the game-changing moves led by the Government in the economy, on the crime front, the energy, tourism, agricultural and other key sectors, Jamaica can effectively shake the 1970s head-ache and begin to move again.

Professor Trevor Munroe, certainly no bystander in the tumultuous 1970s, is very admirably playing a lead role in civil society as a prominent advocate for fundamental and far-reaching reforms. His National Integrity Action Forum is essential as a non-political advocacy and action group working to transforming Jamaica for the better.

The elder political leaders must all work to correct the wrongs of the past and, sooner, rather than later, honourably leave the front rows of the political field and allow Generation X to continue the game-changing initiatives. After all, compared to the previous generations, it is Generation X that has the endless supply of ideas, energy, innovation and pragmatism.

Delano Seiveright is president of Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party.