The Politics of Change - In with the new?

Ken Jones, Contributor

A symptom of the deep political frustration that afflicts our country is the recent rash of calls to replace the current crop of parliamentarians with younger persons. In their constant search to find excuses for our failures, political pundits on the periphery have determined that the peak of human wisdom is at the age of 40; and that this should be a vital statistic in measuring the competence of candidates for Parliament.

But what has age got to do with Jamaica's political dilemma? Will a younger generation of politicians, steeped in the traditions of their elders, automatically do better for the nation? Will a confident cadet fight better battles than a seasoned soldier?

Anyone with a mind to investigate will see that we have already had people below the age of 40 in the forefront of political activity and representational politics; and for those who glibly advocate exuberance over experience, the events of the 1970s should be enlightening.

In 1972, the PNP Government was strongly influenced by the thinking of men who had yet to see their 40th birthday. They included Tony Spaulding (38); P.J. Patterson (37); Eric Bell (39); Robert Pickersgill (29); Carlyle Dunkley (33); Arnold Bertram (28); Peter Phillips (23); and Hugh Small (31). D.K. Duncan, the national organiser, hadn't yet reached 40, in that political age when the visionaries superseded the veterans. The 'old' men then were Michael Manley (48), David Coore (47) and Viv Blake (51).

What has age got to do with the timeliness of a call to action? When Marcus Garvey began his great UNIA movement, he was 27. On the other hand, Bustamante was 53 when he began his political career; and he never became a parliamentarian until he was 60. His cousin Norman Manley joined the political scene at age 45 and entered Parliament when he was 57.

Adrian Gray won his seat in the House of Representatives when he was 72. Before that, he had served Portland as acting chairman of the parish council; as member of the chamber of commerce, head of school boards, member of the Jamaica Livestock Association and founder of the East Portland People's Cooperative Bank. The voters considered his ability above his age.

I am all for the greater involvement of the under-40s; but I am wary of those whose apprenticeship has been served solely in political parties. I'd like to see everyone from the voting age of 18 active in wider public affairs. In fact, aspects of national service should be taught in schools at every level. Nobody failing this subject or being without some record of contribution to community should be eligible for nomination.

Better law needed

The question arises: Why is the Constitution so emphatically rejecting dual citizens of proven patriotism while accepting candidates who have never held a decent job, much more a position of responsible management? There ought to be a better law!

Less controllable, but quite in need of restraint, is the great body of commentators influencing public opinion through the mass media. Listen and read and you cannot avoid the impression that elected men and women are, for the most part, self-seeking opportunists who will not or cannot understand what's good for the country. The wisest players, having all the answers to our problems, are often firmly seated in the commentators' box instead of on the field of play. Strange, is it not?

The fault lies not in the ages of those who represent us, but in the order of their priorities, their failure to choose wisely and implement from the abundance of ideas; and their inability to accept proposals not of their own making. Norman Washington Manley said, and others recite these words without taking them to heart: "Jamaicans have never been short of ideas. What we have lacked is fixity of purpose and continuity of effort."

It isn't the age of representatives that matter. Some may have stayed in office too long while doing too little. But isn't this the fault of an electorate that so often ballots on the basis of emotion rather than reason? If this be so, it is unwise for them to add another irrelevant consideration, a candidate's age.

Ken Jones is a journalist and communications consultant. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and kensjones2002@yahoo.com.