Delroy Chuck IN THE sorry, pitiful, state of the Jamaican society, there are many "do-gooders", well-intentioned, morally inspired, deeply troubled, who want to see a better Jamaica. From every corner, people are coming together, pondering and asking, "How can we help this troubled land?" Decent, sensible, and thoughtful citizens are angry and distressed with a government that has lost its moral compass and no longer represents the conscience of the nation.
Is it any wonder that in the last general election, one party came to the Jamaica people touting a change of the political system as the way forward and, now, another movement - or party - is calling for an alliance of morally upright people to join together to save the country? The Jamaica Alliance for National Unity (JANU) is still undecided whether it is a political party or a pressure group, but from all indications, it wants the best for Jamaica. Yet, it is politically naive and really doesn't understand politics and political representation.
If I understand JANU, it would really like to see a dismantling of the stranglehold of the two traditional political parties, so that once elected to Parliament, parliamentarians can vote their conscience and forget the party line or position. This, indeed, is one of the arguments put forward by the NDM - that a person elected in a constituency would represent the constituency and not a political party. All of this is really nonsense and most unreasonable, if I may say so. Consider my position, I joined the JLP, got elected to Parliament on a JLP platform, but JANU and others would expect that now I am in Parliament I owe no obligation to the party but only to my constituency. JANU's position would be tenable only if I offered myself to the constituency as an independent candidate and won without the help, benefit or constraints of any party policies and principles.
To be sure, a representative must never allow his party's position to override his or her conscience on any issue and when it does, then the appropriate response is to abstain or to urge the party to allow a vote of conscience. Again, a good representative will surely articulate and put the views and opinions of his constituents at the party caucus to make sure they are reflected in the party's position. But, it is simply unfair to believe or expect that a politician can use the party machinery to get elected and then totally ignore it thereafter.
I think the real challenge of politics is for the electorate to make its decision wisely by at least making the better or best choice available. Parties put forward candidates and policy issues and these should be carefully scrutinised. Yes, I agree that candidates should be endorsed or rejected based on their character, quality of leadership and representational skills. Indeed, it is the electorate that makes the decision who serves in the Parliament and it can do so either along party lines and/or by choosing the better candidate. Now is the right time for people to make these assessments and to understand that politics is too important to leave to the politicians alone.
JANU can make a difference by appealing to the electorate, especially the disenchanted and those who have withdrawn from the political process, to get involved. Each citizen must understand how critical it is to participate in the political process instead of withdrawing. I agree with Clinton Chisholm that people must decide whether they are going to be patriots or parasites in our democracy. JANU can encourage citizens to vote with their heads, perhaps with their heart, but never with the state of their bellies. They should be encouraged to dismantle the politics of patronage, of vain promises and empty pronouncements, of racism and violence and the fight for fringe and scarce benefits.
I strongly agree with JANU that more persons of strong and good character should come forward to give the electorate a wider choice. The political system certainly needs more honest, upright citizens who are devoted to unselfish service and put country and others before their personal enrichment and glory. Yet, it is not easy.
The challenge to serve and to commit one's time and energy for a better country is an awesome task. I do not deny there are different breeds of politicians who enter politics for a variety of reasons but some of us are well meaning, do not seek any unjust enrichment, are committed to public service and serve with integrity and honour. However,we do so at an immense cost and burden.
The struggles and challenges of the political representatives are not as easy as they appear. Politicians have to endure the nastiness and smear campaign meted out by their political opponents and detractors.
Even those who are different are still fried in the same political fat and treated with the same contempt by detractors of the political system. In my effort to clean up the gang violence and reduce conflicts in the Grants Pen communities, I had to go into the trenches, the gullies and corners, the byways and highways, to deal with everyone, including the young warriors and violent young men.
Not one truthful person can link me to a gun, a bullet or an act of violence or wrongdoing, yet there are persons who declare that I hug up gunmen and I am corrupt because I associate with gangs and dons. I am aware that my reputation suffered because it is persons in authority who engaged in these nasty character assassinations, but I know my good character remains intact and, eventually, the truth will emerge and I will be exonerated.
For the good and honest who want to serve, they need to understand that it is a lonely, tough and demanding path on the political hustling. People impute motives and believe everyone enters politics to prey on the public purse. No one, or very few, will ever believe there are persons who simply want to create a better future. So, alone, the good and honest struggle along, ignore the taunts, work even harder, overcome the negative jibes and just make people guilty from initially having a wrong opinion of their intentions. In reality, politics demand money, time, enormous effort and abundant energy to tread every corner. Very few persons are willing to help or even understand that it takes millions to conduct a political campaign. How many persons understand that a candidate needs at least 300 workers or volunteers to help on election day or to adequately prepare for the elections. To organise and supervise these workers and volunteers take money, time and effort and that demands another set of volunteers to raise money or organise fund-raising efforts.
In truth, I do not believe politics can be well served until a proper system of campaign financing is worked out and agreed on. In the meantime, we have to work with what we have. I can only urge those who mean this country well, want to rescue it from its present debt-ridden, crime- infested, hopeless path to come forward, participate and/or invest money, time and effort to support candidates or the party that can return hope, justice, peace, prosperity and recapture the conscience of the nation.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and JLP Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at Delchuck@Hotmail.Com.
