Martin Henry
EVERY MEDIA OUTLET has to make time available for government broadcasts or space available for government publication. Not too many people deliberately tune in to or turn the pages to the output of the Jamaica Information Service. But the nuts and bolts or real public policy appear here, never mind the associated spin and gloss.
In Independence, under Mr. Seaga's watch as Minister of Development and Welfare, the media voice of the Government was first called the Government Information Service (GIS). It was quickly noticed that the acronym coincided with that of the Guyana Information Service and the name was changed to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).
In the 1970s the organisation as the Agency for Public Information (API) distinguished itself as a blatant propaganda machine for the ruling party and the 'democratic socialist' Government it formed. It was solidly stuffed with political activists on the Duncan principle: "In a Ministry of Mobilisation in a socialist Government it is very difficult to employ somebody who is not a socialist. I make no apology. Every single employee in the Ministry? his credentials as a democratic socialist are clear and pure."
PUSHING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The employment of an Ian Boyne today as a senior JIS executive while pushing critical public affairs commentary is a measure of the transformation of the old API.
The JIS Bulletin Board carried by The Gleaner on Monday delivered some interesting policy items. The Prime Minister herself is pushing for the finalisation of a National Energy Policy "within the shortest time possible". Jamaica has been playing with an energy policy at least since the Arab/OPEC oil embargo of '73/'74. A new oil crisis 30-odd years later has lit a fire under the Government's tail.
Those of us who follow public policy as an integral part of our lives, as all citizens should, know that who pushes what for why and to benefit whom determine policy. Policies with low political capital value and not vigorously backed personally at the top tend to languish in the system. An important policy push factor emerging here belatedly is the operation of lobby groups. While we have mastered the art of the roadblock, we are still neophytes in organising to doggedly pursue policy changes in the halls of political and legislative power.
'Justice Ministry launches Citizen's Charter' the Government Bulletin announces. Justice policies and public service policies have been among the languishing ones. The Citizen's Charter programme was launched in 1994 by Prime Minister Patterson who promptly moved on to other [more important] things. That the Justice Ministry is launching its charter a dozen years after the launch of the Citizen's Charter programme is amazing when justice is one of the foundational responsibilities of a responsible government and the cry for justice has been one of the most prolonged and strident of the Jamaican people since Emancipation!
CRISIS POLICY
Government is now going to deal decisively with squatting, the Bulletin Board tells us. And why? "Squatting has become so pervasive now that we cannot ignore it and something has to be done about at this point in time," the responsible Minister, Roger Clarke, proudly announces. crisis policy. The usual.
The hurricane season has jumped off vigorously with the first-named storm occurring in early June in 40 years. 'PM instructs agencies to begin drain cleaning'. Several critical policy matters come up from that single declaration: disaster preparedness and management, infrastructure maintenance, waste disposal and management, and the role of local government in our system of governance - all areas for which the PM has had portfolio responsibility, and all still very untidy, low-keyed and resource-starved.
And responding to external diplomatic pressure from the mighty Uncle Sam, 'Jamaica makes progress in combating human trafficking' Legislation to be pushed through Parliament this year. There are other matters like the Charter of Rights and flexible work arrangements trapped and languishing in the legislative system for years. Low policy priority. Little pressure.
Martin Henry is a communication specialist.
