Commentary

A couple of Thursdays ago, I was pleased with the newscasts of the two main electronic media and how they treated statements by our two main political parties. TVJ's anchor Archibald Gordon was dealing with the bold declaration in which Minister of Finance Audley Shaw stated that it was not his "intention" to introduce new taxes during the 27-month period of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement. It was correctly the lead story and had the potential to comfort a fool. However, Gordon said it was an intention only. It was not a commitment or a guarantee. It is no better than a wish.

It reminds one of the story in which there are seven birds perched on a wire. Three have the intention to fly. How many remain on the wire. The answer is not four but seven because intention is not action. Mr Shaw was not able to get away with a meaningless declaration. However, Shaw has grown and it is a much better statement than what he told the nurses when he was Opposition spokesman on finance.

Analysis

Unfortunately, the CVM newscast on the same evening and on the same matter was not astute in its analysis of Mr Shaw's statement and gleefully reported it without comment. However, later CVM had the People's National Party (PNP) on its toes. Dwayne Berbick was the anchor and he had two news clips from the PNP in their own words saying the apparent complete opposite about the Budget debate. Dr Omar Davies, Opposition spokesman on finance commended the Government on an improved quality in the Budget debate while the president of the PNPYO, Damion Crawford described the debate as a sham. It showed that Berbick was connecting the dots and the PNP needs to do some clarifying about seemingly contradictory assessments from the same organisation.

And then on the following day, April 22, the Gleaner editorial titled 'US must stop the guns, but', which was a response to Prime Minister Bruce Golding's statement that the United States (US) cannot escape some responsibility for our crime predicament because most of the guns involved in murders in Jamaica originate or were manufactured in the US. The editorial argued that the US was culpable but nevertheless stated the three reasons why the US finds it difficult to arrest the situation. And in spite of the situation, it did not absolve the Golding administration of its responsibilities and inadequacies of its response. It was a fair editorial which was not afraid to give the other side of the argument which it did not agree with. It was keeping a superpower on its toes along with speaking truth to local power. One must comment on a vigilant editorial which was fair, well researched and well argued.

Propaganda

Unfortunately, this is not always the case in the media. If you watch religious media it tends to be propaganda. Whether it is a Roman Catholic station or Seventh-day Adventist programme or Pentecostal programme, the normal tendency is to present their side of the argument only. Or when the other side is rarely presented it is in an inadequate way. So even when they have a valid point it is so biased that you fail to appreciate its validity.

And, so often, that is how budget debates are conducted by politicians. They are unwilling or unable to present their opponents' argument competently. So the discussion is not elevating. Persons fail to recognise that when they can present the other side fairly and competently, displaying a full grasp of the issues, that is the time they are better able to convince others about the virtue and veracity of their position.

A vigilant media is important to the society if we are to achieve peace and prosperity.

Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'The Cross and the Machete: Native Baptists of Jamaica - Identity, Ministry and Legacy'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.

'Persons fail to recognise when they can present the other side fairly and competently, displaying a full grasp of the issues, that is the time they are better able to convince others about the virtue and veracity of their position.'