Gordon Robinson | Government by diktat

Jamaica’s attempt to apply Westminster to a three million population with just 63 MPs has succeeded only in creating Government by Diktat.

For example, last Sunday I queried Nigel Clarke’s facile assertion that files are “cleared” whenever a new Minister takes office so there’s no historical record at Ministries. That was obviously inconsistent with any rational concept of governance and his championing of continuity in Government. So it drove me to ask how, without any historical record, was Nigel able to promise Dionne Jackson-Miller he’d release 13 years of FSC reports?

It’s possible he misspoke and meant to say there was no hysterical record. I speculate because, as soon as last Sunday’s column was published, former PNP General Secretary and Information Minister, Colin Campbell, tweeted ( @2Brushie):

“File clearing only applies to personal files. Ministry’s [files] remain with the PS and Registry. Plus, a huge ring binder is on the new Minister’s desk when he enters. It contains reports from all Departments and Agencies, things done and undone. No excuse.”

Then I received a phone call from another former cabinet minister who informed me the directive received then was cabinet submissions and cabinet papers only were to be shredded. All else should remain with the Ministry.

But, remember, Westminster in Jamaica begat Government by Diktat. If Nigel says there’s no historical record AND files are cleared, any critique of such an absurdity must be, based on the Gospel according to Nigel, “an abuse of the transparency I’m showing” and/or “cheap political points trying to deflect from…the issue.”

Speaking of Government by Diktat, remember Rocky Meade?

For those who came in late, an OPM Press Release dated September 13, 2022, announced that Former army chief, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade, had been appointed Cabinet Secretary and head of the public service. In the release, PM Holness was quoted as saying “Meade’s years of experience in government will be an asset to the public service …”

Government? Which Government?

Rocky was quoted in the release as saying he was “optimistic” for his new role

“…I pledge to further the positive evolution of the public service for the benefit of wider society” was his solemn if somewhat bewildering assurance.

There was just one, teeny, weeny problem. The appointment was blatantly unconstitutional because, at the time, Rocky wasn’t constitutionally eligible for the purported appointment.

Oopsie…

Apparently that pesky document (The Constitution), apparently read only in OPM’s Dyslexia Department and, somehow, overlooked by Government’s legal advisor (probably wasn’t even consulted), once again contrived to embarrass a Government seemingly intolerant of its provisions.

So Rocky, like a pimpled teen on the back seat of his father’s 1965 Studebaker, was forced into an awkward withdrawal. That was an experience resembling my favourite Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavour. But, on Valentine’s Day, he finally scored.

As Nigel trumpeted his trillion dollar budget in Parliament (run-wid-it time soon?) OPM issued another Diktat detailing how Rocky might share in those Estimates of Expenditure. The pretentious headline read “Rocky Meade CD, JP, PhD, Appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary with Responsibility for National Strategic Initiatives”

Ya don’t say!

With a little help from an old friend, Oxford Advanced English Dictionary (OED) I discovered plenipotentiary is an adjective with a short form meaning “specialist”. Specialist WHAT?

OED explained: “having full powers to take action, make decisions, etc; to represent a government, especially in a foreign country.”

So, it appears Rocky, with a long and distinguished career as an Army Officer, is now a “specialist” in “National Strategic Initiatives”. Are Jamaica’s “national strategic initiatives” as Rocky expressed in September 2022, “to further the positive EVOLUTION (my emphasis) of the public service”?

OPM’s Diktat was vague on this:

“In this role, he will advise the Prime Minister (and Cabinet when necessary) on, as well as co-ordinate, National Strategic Initiatives and Projects across Ministries, Departments and Agencies within Government with a view to ensuring their timely and effective implementation. These include existing and new initiatives that will have a positive long-term impact on the country’s development.”

It’s no wonder so many lawyers are attracted to politics. Like lawyers, politicians never use ten words where a hundred will do and never speak plainly lest they be quoted. Advise cabinet on and coordinate WHAT? We’re not just talking “strategies” here but also “projects”. This sounds very adjacent to the job of cabinet secretary and head of the public service. Except this one is also expected to introduce “new” projects. Does Jamaica still have a Cabinet Secretary? Who? Why is Rocky doing an enhanced version of his/her job under a different, more pompous Title?

How come all of a sudden one, deggay, deggay, retired army officer is urgently needed to co-ordinate “new” and “evolved” projects across the entire public service? How many Gazillions is he being paid for this herculean task? This isn’t simply a delayed replacement for PM’s National Security Advisor who was made Police Commissioner. This is an Advisor to Cabinet and a projects implementer.

N.B: “These include existing and NEW (sic) initiatives….” NEW initiatives (pardon the tautology)? Devised by a former Chief of Staff who spoke expertly at the announcement of every State of Public Emergency? Is that the expertise he’s bringing to creation of “new initiatives”? Are more military-style “enhanced security measures” coming?

The day after Rocky’s appointment by Diktat (no parliamentary or other public vetting) he appeared to hit the road running as three “new” SOEs were announced by another OPM Diktat. No Press Conference. No questions possible. This Diktat’s cited justification was generic geographic murder stats instead of constitutionally required identification of “any person or body of persons” threatening “public safety”. So SOEs as ad hoc crime fighting tools are now officially normative.

Is this a “new initiative” along an evolutionary path to a Military State by Diktat? Meanwhile PNP seems convinced this is a friendly neighbourhood debating contest. No sign of the legal action specifically promised by Mark Golding to challenge SOEs constitutionality. Just yap, yap, yap!

Sheesh!

Ambassadors are usually posted abroad. My friend OED assures me plenipotentiaries “represent a government, especially in a foreign country”. So where will Rocky be posted? Ukraine?

Let’s see if there’s any foreign posting announcement in OPM’s Diktat:

“Ambassador Meade will be based in the Office of the Prime Minister.”

Wha, wha, WHAT? An “Ambassador” working in OPM? Which Government does he represent there? Lime Cay?

No problem mon. When it comes to devising and implementing new strategies across the public service, we are assured by OPM Diktat Rocky is our man: “He holds a PhD from University of Amsterdam, a Master of Military Arts & Science degree from US Army Command and General Staff College, and Master and Bachelor of Arts degrees from University of the West Indies....” as well as several “Certificates of Achievement”.

Wow. A master of Military Arts? I can see how our “new national strategies” should ensure Vlad thinks twice before invading. Or maybe Rocky can devise military tactics to wage war against organized crime. Now there’s a war we’ll soon be winning with Rocky’s extensive military experience calling the shots.

Rocky will impart his vast military knowledge “across Ministries, Departments and Agencies within Government.” Soon, teachers should be fully trained in paramilitary responses to unruly students; doctors able to subdue sick patients; NWA using guerilla tactics against wanna-be extortionists; and Transport Authority strategically retaking our streets from undisciplined occupying forces in taxis.

Yes Sirree Bob. And Carol. And Ted. And Alice! Rocky’s plenni potential will soon have “a positive long-term impact on the country’s development.”

Sure. And you can call me Pearl!

These are Westminster created square pegs forced into Jamaica’s round political holes that end up inducing voters to vote for Party over candidate because they have no option of real Parliamentary representation. It’s all or nothing. That sham vote (for Party over candidate) results in too many MPs unfit for purpose but who represent the “right” Party. That results in these unfit MPs representing their Party in Parliament by rubber stamping (or reflexively opposing) Government’s “initiatives” instead of representing constituents by supervising Government. Then we get Government by Diktat.

So, you see, the ankle bone’s connected to the leg bone. And the leg bone’s…

All these dots connect to reveal an end result called voter apathy. If Government and Opposition don’t wake up; smell democracy burning; and conduct a genuine, credible, inclusive, comprehensive Constitutional Reform process that gives we the people real hope for representative Government, voter apathy will exponentially increase. If we are given an authentic chance of Government by the people for the people, voter apathy will dissipate.

Peace and Love.

- Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.