D.K. DuncanMORESO BY historical necessity rather than deliberate planning, the last decade could be characterised as the decade of evaluation. Some may call it the decade of more talk less action. Others may quote the well known Jamaican saying "everyday carry bucket go a well, one day the bucket bottom mus' drop out." However it is characterised, there is no doubt that the decade has provided a wealth of information on Jamaica's political culture and governance.
The challenge is how to concretise this information and transform it into positive action for the benefit of the majority. Indeed, many milestones justify this need for serious reflection, analysis and action. It is some 63 years since the beginning of what most people agree to be Jamaica's modern political history (1938 to the present). December 2001 represents 59 years since the first General Election under Universal Adult Suffrage. There have been 12 general elections contested by both political parties since December 14, 1944. This Saturday is the 25th anniversary of the General Election of December 15, 1976. October 30, 2001 represented 21 years since the Jamaica Labour Party won the General Election of 1980.
December 2001 also signals the return of some of our most powerful private sector leaders to the helm of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). It is also the 25th anniversary of their formation in 1976. By 2002 we will be 40 years into political independence. Many of us should be political adults by now with sufficient experience of personal and national victories and losses, regrets and satisfaction. If we cannot pass on a legacy of a prosperous Jamaica, we can attempt to leave a legacy of truth.
For the record, but more importantly for practical purposes, it is useful to catalogue some of this thinking especially as it relates to governance and our political culture.
1. February 27, 1991 saw the Commission of Enquiry into the importation and distribution of building materials after Hurricane Gilbert by Sole Commissioner, E. Geo. Green. This 'Zinc' Enquiry represented an examination of the role of "scarce benefits and spoils". The Report was submitted on September 12, 1993.
2. March 12, 1991 - The Stone Committee appointed to advise the Jamaican Government on the performance, accountability and responsibilities of elected Parliamentarians reported after sittings from July 1990 to March 1991.
3. Late 1991 The formation of a Joint Select Committee of Parliament on Constitutional and Electoral Reform gave rise to a Constitutional Commission which was established in February 1992. This Commission Chaired by Mr. Justice James Kerr and Dr. Lloyd Barnett made its report to Parliament in August 1993. The final report of the Joint Select Committee was presented on May 31, 1995.
At his first swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister on March 30, 1992, the Hon. P.J. Patterson in a speech entitled "A nation divided against itself cannot stand" - stated, inter alia "high on the agenda of the new administration would be the question of Constitutional Reform".
4. January 1992 Professor Rex Nettleford chaired the Committee of Advisors on Government Structure (the Nettleford Committee on Governance) which reported in late 1992.
5. June 10, 1992 The Minister of National Security and Justice, the Hon. K.D. Knight tabled in Parliament, a Green Paper No. 2 entitled Management Review Jamaica Constabulary Force. This Hirst Report dealt with comprehensive recommendations for the improvement of the Security Forces and the Justice System.
6. November 18, 1992 A National Task Force on Crime headed by the present Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr. Justice Wolfe, was established against the background of prevailing levels of crime and violence. This Task Force reported in April 1993. A major concern of its members as well as the general public was the large number of similar reports, which preceded this one and as the report stated: "Throughout the length and breadth of Jamaica, the concern was whether or not the Government would implement even a minority of the recommendations. The people have demonstrated the will to be involved in a meaningful way in any programme of implementation. The opportunity must be seized, further delay will have disastrous consequences. To this end, we have included in this report proposals as to implementation"
7. The General Elections of March 1993 intervened. Mr. J.S. Kerr in his capacity as Ombudsman for political matters in reporting to Parliament on April 30, 1993 on the violent elections, stated: "In the final analysis, it is beyond debate that the factional antagonism in our country is not based upon ethnic, cultural or religious differences. It is the synthetic creation of our politics and the style of our politics is the creation of our politicians. Therefore, there is now a special responsibility on our politicians above that of the ordinary citizens to put an end to this political tribalism."
8. February 15, 1994 In addressing a National Consultation on Values and Attitudes Prime Minister Patterson reminded his audience: "The fight for scarce benefits and political spoils has contributed to a polarised society in which we operate as hostile tribes which seem to be perpetually at war, rather than working together to realise a common goal"
He further asserted: "We have to lead in community building and not relegate our role to that of distributors of material benefits. We have to create a political culture which enables and not alienates; that empowers rather than disempowers; that permits right and forbids wrong."
9. June 11, 1994 in a Status Report on the Review of the Jamaican Constitution, the Rt. Hon. Edward Seaga, Leader of the Opposition noted:" I refer, of course, to the structure of government. At this point, the Opposition is of the view that the legislative arm of Government, Parliament, while carrying supreme Legislative responsibility, de jure, is of much inferior status to the executive arm, Cabinet, de facto. This imbalance requires adjustment in any re-structuring of the system of Governance. The Jamaica Labour Party Opposition will approach with an open mind the question of the structure of Government best suited to creating a system able to synthesise the best of our abilities, realising that what will serve best may have to be created to suit our needs".
Tribalism
These observations, as well as others were later published in September 1995 in a document - JLP: Developing a new political order.
10. September 1995 The University of the West Indies (UWI) produced a participatory research document "They cry respect Urban violence and poverty in Jamaica which added significantly to the understanding of challenges facing the inner city. By January 2001, the Faculty of Social Sciences through a Consultative process, added to the body of information in a document entitled Crime, peace and justice in Jamaica - A transformative approach".
11. July 23, 1997 Prior to the holding of the General Elections of December 1997, the Hon. Mr. Justice James S. Kerr reported as Chairman on the work of the National Committee on Political Tribalism. This Committee was established in 1996 whose mandate included: (i) To consider and recommend practical steps in order to eliminate political violence (ii) To ascertain on the basis of factual findings, the primary causes of political tribalism and make appropriate and practical recommendations for its extinction.
12. January 1999 Private Sector leadership continued to contribute to the discussion by providing more information through the Orane Report in January 1999. Douglas Orane headed a Task Force to determine effective ways to reduce waste in the Public Sector. Later in 1999, prior to the Budget Exercise, the Moses Committee was appointed, in response to the Gas Price Demonstrations.
This broad-based Committee reported in record time. Subsequent to this Report, Prime Minister Patterson reacted by proclaiming: "What has been learned from the demonstrations of a fortnight ago? Firstly, that the old order the closed distant and authoritarian systems of Governance are being forced to give way to a structure which is inclusive, responsive and accountable to the new proud, informed assertive Jamaican citizen of the 21st century."
13. January 2001 The American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica sponsored The Police Executive Forum of Washington D.C. (PERF) to carry out a study and make recommendations on "Violent crime and murder reduction in Jamaica".
14. April 2001 The chilling annual report from Amnesty International entitled Jamaica Killings and violence by police: How many more victims?"
15. May 2001 The Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights in re-publishing a document entitled Government, The Police and Personal Freedom had this to say in its preface:
"It is in an important respect regrettable that after more than 30 years the Council's publication "Government, The Police and Personal Freedom" remains relevant to contemporary experience. Today more than ever there is need not only for a national awareness of the impropriety of the abuse of the human rights of citizens by the security forces but also for an appreciation of its absolute futility and counter-productive results".
August 17, 2001 - As a result of the significant increase in criminal and political violence there was a high level meeting between representatives of the Government, Opposition and the PSOJ which proposed the establishment of a National Council on Crime and Violence.
16. In the interim, on October 4, 2001, the two major political parties held discussions "relating to the recent outbreak of political violence in the Corporate Area". They affirmed "their commitment to working together in an effort to eliminate the political violence and tension which now exists". Their joint statement noted that they "agreed on an agenda of issues to urgently address the problem".
17. The National Committee on Crime and Violence (by now established) made a further contribution to the wealth of information through its report completed on October 31, 2001. In its conclusion, entitled "The Way Forward" the Committee quotes Albert Einstein: "One cannot expect to solve a problem by remaining at the same level of thinking one was at when one created it".
It is useful to remind ourselves that in 1987 the Department of Government at UWI, Mona in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation (FES) sponsored a symposium entitled "Crime and Violence in Jamaica - Causes and Solutions". Principal participants were the Hon. Peter Phillips, the present Minister of National Security; Professor Carl Stone (deceased); Dr. Hyacinth Ellis, Criminologist and presently Commissioner on the West Kingston Enquiry; Errol Gentles, an Attorney for the Police in the West Kingston Enquiry and Richard Small, eminent Attorney and Human Rights Activist.
We have had a lot of thinking in the last decade. It's time to move beyond the paralysis of analysis. It is time for action - informed action. Our political culture is dynamic - we affect its evolution by our action or inaction. The time is now to build momentum for change. The seeds of knowledge, through analysis, have been sown. Despite the paralysis, some activity is taking place. Two Third Parties exist with varying levels of support. The two major parties are meeting, while preparing for General Elections .Civil Society is alive and growing - Jamaicans for Justice, Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights, Families Against State Terrorism (FAST), Concerned Citizens for Jamaica, the Reverend Al Miller-led group CLFN, the JCC Initiative, among others.
Several Inner- City community groups flourish. The media plays a critical role in the national discussion. This is a basis for co-operation, collaboration and the building of trust. Coupled with the wealth of knowledge, there is the possibility of social, economic and personal transformation, which can lead to genuine empowerment: There is hope. But as N.W. Manley once said: "Jamaica has never lacked ideas. What we lack is consistency of effort and continuity of purpose". One love, one heart.
Dr. D.K. Duncan, former General Secretary and Minister of Government of the PNP administration in the 1970s, is currently in private dental practice and is a political analyst. E-mail: dktruth@hotmail.com
