Delroy Chuck
THE JLP-organised islandwide demonstration on Tuesday, September 6, was one of the most peaceful, purposeful and powerful ever conducted in Jamaica. Whereas previous islandwide protests have turned ugly, violent and unruly, last Tuesday's were generally orderly, well managed and strongly supported in over 150 locations across the island. It is a resounding tribute to the JLP's political leadership that having got the message across and demonstrated strong political action, the protests were duly called off and ceased at 3:00 p.m. for the nation to return to normality.
When political protests are properly assessed, last Tuesday's events will deserve very high grades. First, across the island, the people needed to send a compelling message to the government that things are just not right. The poor, weak and vulnerable are in agony. They are suffering from the increasing prices, high utility bills, lack of social services, inability to educate their children, escalating crime and mounting hopelessness in a country that is clearly moving on the wrong path. How does a political party respond? The JLP had to respond to the hardships, deprivation and cries of the people. And, peaceful protest is a strong and powerful political and constitutional right.
NO UNCONTROLLABLE DEMONSTRATION
Second, even while there was much inconvenience in some areas, the protests did not erupt into boisterous and uncontrollable demonstration anywhere. To be sure, there were many roadblocks and people could not go about their normal business, but in more than three-quarters of the locations, the protesters demonstrated without any disturbance or incident. Sadly, the noteworthy events of the day were caused by the seemingly politically motivated, downright unprofessional and unlawful behaviour of wayward police officers.
From the accounts received, misguided police officers seemed intent on apprehending and embarrassing the leaders of the protests, as mayors, deputy mayors and members of parliament were pinpointed, abused and arrested. At the same time, let me hasten to inform that, in general, the police acted professionally and certainly in Kingston and St. Andrew, the police moved around, cleared roadblocks and displayed utmost respect for the rights and freedoms of the protesters.
The government, its supporters and sympathisers, especially in the media, are busily downplaying the success, significance and seminal message of the demonstrators. Angry and desperate persons, many supportive of the PNP, mounted several roadblocks, to vent their rage, disappointment and disapproval of government policies. The people are upset with rising prices, which cannot be blamed solely on global events. The government imposed a $14-billion tax package in the 2003/4 budget and returned this fiscal year with a $9-billion tax package. These corrective measures, after the 'run wid it' general election spending in 2002, are the main contributors to the inflation rate over the past three years of 16.8 per cent, 13.2 per cent and almost 20 per cent annualised to August this year.
CANNOT ESCAPE BLAME
The government cannot escape blame for the hardships of the people when it imposed such harsh taxation measures, yet cannot provide properly maintained roads, a half decent fire service, drugs and equipment in the hospitals, a timely delivery of justice in the courts, resources and better pay for the police and civil servants, and even comply with its election promise to relieve heavily burdened parents of cost-sharing.
When the people ask what are the alternatives to these ghastly and oppressive PNP government policies, remember, in the mid-eighties, when Michael Manley led a PNP demonstration because the dollar moved from 5.50 to 6.30 to one U.S. dollar and a JLP administration reversed the slide. In 1972 and 1989, the PNP came to power without any alternative plan but simply preached 'better must come' and 'we put people first' and, in 2002, retained power by cleverly crafted slogans of solid achievement and progress, even though little existed.
The JLP's alternatives to the present government is to make the management of the economy one of its top priorities, to seek international investors instead of loans, to provide a business environment that creates wealth from development and production instead of government bonds and money trading, to call on our people to use their minds instead of the nation's mines to create a better Jamaica and, inter alia, to eliminate the rampant corruption, genetically awarded contracts and appointments and the cultist behaviour that elevates the party above everything else. The real challenge of the JLP is to get its message across and strong political action, such as peaceful protests, marches and meetings, may well be the answer.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
