Heather Robinson
WOULD YOU believe that there are four groups of government employees that do not have a job description? I refer to the elected representatives, i.e., councillors, members of parliament, ministers and prime ministers. In all of our 43 years of being an independent country, we have never found the need to formulate such job descriptions. But why should we be overly concerned about this situation when these paid jobs equally do not have any specifically stated qualifications to qualify one for applying for the jobs. There might be some references to not being bankrupt and not having a criminal record, but no requirements such as having worked successfully in a named field or indeed any academic qualifications are stated anywhere.
During this month of June, there will be much talk about who will publicly denounce criminal connections from among this group of elected representatives. So here we are in mid-term asking persons to agree to separate themselves in some cases from persons whom they have known, nurtured, protected and shielded for eight, 10, or 20-odd years.
FORGET AND FORGIVE
Many of these criminals will tell you that they are responsible for the election of MP X or MP Y. These are persons who do not deal very well with being ignored or, better yet, being asked to live without recognition, as well as having to abide by the consequences of a decree absolute. Divorce in circumstances where one party is very unwilling can have terrible consequences.
Those elected representatives who have ties and are now being asked to sever such ties are in unenviable positions. Come June 16, the day after the deadline, Jamaica will be asked to accept all of these persons as abiding by what is right, decent and legitimate. Equally, we must also be expected to forget and forgive those who were involved with illegal and immoral activities anytime before that time.
COMFORTABLE POLITICIANS
But what else can we do when clearly our political leaders have been quite comfortable all these years by agreeing to their nomination and subsequent election; sat with them in meetings of the two parliamentary groups, in party political meetings and socialised publicly and privately with them?
Would you feel like you had committed any wrong when your colleagues have treated you so well all these years? If you have never been sanctioned or punished for any of the wrongs you know you have committed, who is the Private Sector Organisation of Jamica(PSOJ) to come now and shame you into decency?
The President of the People's National Party (PNP) and Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson, stated in Parliament on Wednes-day that all government MPs "must sign" the Emancipation Declaration, while reminding the country that these MPs had signed the Code of Conduct prior to the 2002 general election. Mr Patterson said "If you support anything there is nothing wrong with reaffirming your faith from time to time". Will the signing of the Emancipation Declaration be enough to reinforce the need for MPs to permanently distance themselves from criminals and criminality?
MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS
The President of Scotia Bank Jamaica, William Clarke, recently referred to Jamaica as a 'failed state'. I am not going to repeat the Prime Minister's response which included a reference to the bank being the most profitable financial institution in Jamaica; rather I have some suggestions for Mr. Clarke and successful businessmen like him. Try and imagine a government of Jamaica that includes Members of Parliament who are appointed as ministers with the track record, business acumen and professional competence of a Bill Clarke!
Further, can you imagine a Douglas Orane, Aubyn Hill, Richard Byles, Michael Lee Chin and Beverly Lopez sitting as members of parliament and ministers having a meeting with in the first instance the PSOJ to discuss the state of crime in Jamaica, and then meeting with the Jamaica Police Federation to discuss their 27-point claim?
Perhaps it is time that we begin to lobby persons like these to put their names on a ballot so that we can together not just criticise a government, but rather go about making meaningful contributions to better governance. And at that time we might just see a 'successful state' with job descriptions for all elected and appointed representatives and one bereft of criminally connected politicians. Putting your brain and record of success where your words now are would be a welcome change. I continue to live in hope.
Heather Robinson is a Life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
