Devon Dick
THE HONOURABLE Portia Simpson Miller is not the first person to have a government policy of using selective persons on Boards. The Most Honourable P.J. Patterson said that all government Boards should have a young person born after 1962, hence there are young persons on boards, including Air Jamaica.
The Prime Minister ought to be commended in deciding to place persons on boards based on their potential contribution to ensuring probity and integrity rather than maintaining a culture of Boards being a place of rewards for party faithfuls only. It is similar to the Patterson administration (1997) that did not reward party faithfuls only in the selection of members of the Senate but also placed two independents.
There is prime ministerial precedence for Madame Prime Minister's action.
There is also precedence in civil society. There is also the policy of a minister of religion being assigned to every police station, acting as a Station Chaplain. Some years ago, the Honourable Rex Nettleford proposed that members of the clergy be members of staff in our schools to enhance the educational system. And by the way most school boards have a pastor as chair or member. So pastors can serve on school boards and police stations but not on Bank of Jamaica, National Solid Waste and NHT etc.
PARTNERSHIP AND SOLIDARITY
I am biased toward that proposal because in my book, Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation Building (2002) I wrote, "The Church, in helping to build the nation and State represents a call for partnership and solidarity, in which the Church and State recognise the role of each other and co-operate for the benefit of the citizens." The church represents the largest organisation in Jamaica and can contribute to the ethical insights of Boards. Boards do not manage, but establish policy directions and monitor their implementation and goals.
There are two possible fundamental issues the Prime Minister has placed on the table. She believes in a closer working relationship with the Church.
Therefore, launching her campaign at Paul Bogle's statue was very potent.
It was Bogle's outworking of his Christian faith that led him to political activism. The same with Sam Sharpe. However, since Bedward, the Church has taken a back seat from political activism. And the 1938 labour protests were led by trade unions and subsequent major protests have been linked to political parties. In addition, some church leaders believe that the Church should only engage in evangelism and ignore the State apparatus. Mrs. Simpson Miller appears to be looking at a paradigm that worked well in the past to have a better society.
Secondly, the Prime Minister is known for her no-nonsense approach to corruption. It was under her ministerial portfolio that a former minister of government was imprisoned for misuse of farm workers' money. Therefore, this new policy sends a signal that she is willing to try things to stem corruption. This latest move sends an important signal to the workers that there are persons in whom they can confide about corruption.
There was a bishop on the NHDC Board when the Angus report was made. A leading clergyman was on Century National's Board. Hopefully, there will be a companion whistle-blower legislation to support the religious persons because corruption is complex and subtle.
There is no need to crucify Portia for trying. Hopefully, there will be a resurrection and a new day will dawn.
Rev Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of "Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building.
