The JLP confab and the media

Delano Seiveright, Contributor

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) went into its 67th annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston last Sunday under a heavy media cloud of gloom and doom. Journalists, commentators and analysts in the last few weeks, and even more so in the days leading up the event, gave the distinct impression to the Jamaican public that the conference would be a definite flop.

Amazingly, the conference, according to political-conference veterans, turned out to be one of the biggest and most energised conferences in Jamaica's history.

The media are a most powerful entity in every society. Perceptions, perspectives and even mood can more often than not be influenced by what you read, hear and watch day after day. If what you read, hear and watch day after day is by and large negative, then your opinion will very likely be negative. In the weeks and days leading up the conference, a number of developments directly related to the ruling JLP, dominated the headlines. These included CVM's Don Anderson polls, the internal races in the ruling JLP and allegations against James Robertson by an individual seeking asylum in the USA.

Poor poll showing

CVM's Don Anderson polls looked into the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips saga, public safety, the economy, corruption, political party and leadership rankings. Not surprisingly, the governing party fared badly in most of the polls. Frankly, any government and governing party that gets good poll ratings on anything ranging from the economy to party standings, in this day and age, is maybe utopian. In an economically depressed world, people, by and large, become somewhat hostile to those occupying government.

The Obama administration - barely two years in office - got a historic battering in the recent mid-term elections. This despite it not being responsible for the economic malaise wrought on the United States (US). Frustrated people act in frustration, and Obama's administration suffered the misfortune of being in office at a time when many governments are hard-pressed to 'fix' everything now and impress the people appropriately. The Republican and Tea parties were able to make significant gains on political platforms that were, at best, half-done and ambiguous.

We find ourselves in the same position here. The governing party inherited a basket case of an economy and society and was quickly overrun, before even settling into Jamaica House, by a series of crises. These included the effects of Hurricane Dean, flooding, international food, oil and economic crises.

Coupled with these were a series of by-elections, a horribly undisciplined society, inherited but still rampant corruption, and a restless public sector demanding increased wages and benefits. Thereafter, the bitter pill of a necessary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its satellite effects took root and, to top it all off, the Manatt extradition debacle settled on the psyche of the people for months.

Notwithstanding these challenges, the Government performed commendably, in first stabilising a swaying ship and charting a clear path forward. Already, game-changing initiatives are bearing fruit, and the country has received glowing accolades from international agencies including the World Bank, IMF, Oppenheimer and international news media outlets including the Sunday Times and The Economist. Among the more prominent successes are:

• Tuition-free education up to secondary level
  
• The abolition of hospital user fees
  
• Establishment of the Constituency Development Fund
  
• An expanded Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education
  
• The economy benchmark treasury bill rates - lowest in nearly 30 years
  
• Jamaica Debt Exchange - the most successful government-debt operation of its kind on record.
  
• The re-engagement of multilateral financial institutions, giving us access to loans at very low interest rates
  
• The success of the IMF agreement thus far, including the passing of all tests.
  
• The Air Jamaica divestment that will save taxpayers billions per year.
  
• The US$400 million major road-rehabilitation project.
  
• The revolutionisation of the sugar industry.
  
• The recalibration of the agriculture sector.
  
• The coming revitalisation of the broad mining sector.
  
• The increased successes in tourism despite unprecedented challenges.
  
• The almost halving of major crimes, including murder.
  
• The coming developments in our energy sector.

Despite these major and game-changing successes that beat out the performance of many past governments under favourable conditions, the JLP is down in the polls. The media's consistent and heavy diet on 'bad news' and sensational stories has almost eliminated any sense, by most Jamaicans, that we are on the right path. People have become very cynical and negative in their outlooks. The Government must improve its public relations and communications efforts, but that is extremely difficult in a sensational media environment and a society steeped in cynicism.

The current moves at reform and transformation in the JLP that have resulted in internal elections is a perfect example of the media's love for sensationalism. Despite the decent and peaceful internal races gone and in progress, elements in the media insist on spinning peripheral developments into major news headlines that feed 'negatives' to the public. The impression is then given that the party has descended into internecine infighting. There is, more often than not, tension in any electoral process, and this is exacerbated by an occasional loose canon or two, who go out of their way to make a scene. In all, though, the current movements in the JLP have been generally quiet. The recent deputy leadership race among Dr Chris Tufton, Dr Horace Chang and Don Foote was, by and large, friendly rivalry.

Another news story that fed into the sensational craving of some elements in the media surrounded the allegations related to murder conspiracies and other matters against government minister and JLP deputy leader, James Robertson, by a Jamaican man seeking asylum in the US. The story first broke in the Sunday Herald newspaper approximately seven days before the JLP's annual conference last Sunday. It is no secret that the newspaper's principals are senior officials of the opposition People's National Party. Further, the South Florida-based Jamaican lawyer behind the sworn statement containing the allegations is known to be hostile to the JLP and its leaders, and has consistently made comments that appear aimed at destroying its reputation.

Serious allegations

One radio station, clearly alerted beforehand, picked up the story and gave the man making the allegations around one hour to speak extensively on the matter. Clearly, the allegations made by the man are serious, but one would have thought that some media houses would have exercised more caution in how the story was carried. We know full well the intense maliciousness of some in our society and must be careful in how we report mere 'allegations' in this environment.

Further, one would have thought that some professional journalists would have assessed the origins of the story itself and, as such, utilised proper judgment in how or whether the story is or was reported. The Gleaner and a few other media houses must be commended for exercising good judgment in its reportage of this odd news story. Let the police handle the matter.

With the clouds of negativity dominating media, the JLP, in the end, managed to pull off a stellar event. Media junkies were nervous coming into the yearly event but, thankfully, despite the challenges, the JLP did very well. Let us hope that more and more people are not being swayed by the daily digest of negativity.

Delano Seiveright is president of Generation 2000 (G2K) the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.