Camile a rising star

Too often columnists, especially your humble scribe, give readers the impression that politics is nothing but a dirty game full of hypocrites determined to seek personal gain to the public's detriment.

This would be a cruelly false characterisation of a vocation essential to any nation's organised development. The difficulty faced by columnists is that we're permitted too few words and published too infrequently for all aspects of any subject to be comprehensively explored. So we yield to the tyranny of the urgent, which usually portrays negativity.

But it's equally true that most of our political leaders entered this ungrateful calling with idealistic intent. Somewhere along the line, some prove wanting either because of personal failings or the constant, stifling pressure of the system, but many retain their inherent goodwill and strive for Jamaica's betterment. The satisfaction of assisting others is, for many, the sole fulfilment.

Also, as in any sport or other spectator activity, future stars lurk under the radar working hard at paying their dues, while awaiting the selectors' nod. In politics, unlike sports, we, the people, are the selectors. Similar to sports, it's a spectators' prerogative to try to spot these future stars and to take pleasure in saying "I told you so" as their predictions become leading lights.

My pick for political rising star is a young parish councillor from the Portmore Council (Gregory Park division) named Camile Buchanan. You all know I treat the political arena like a haunted house (one I'm unlikely to enter), and so I'd never have learned of Camile's existence but for her own accidental involvement in my favourite pastime, horse racing.

Although it's impossible to represent the Gregory Park division without some awareness of that unique industry/sport that dominates the area, Camile's participation in horse racing didn't come about through any personal association with, or intimate knowledge of, the sport.

No Party Blinkers

I've not revealed Camile's political affiliation to emphasise a point about her political style. It's easy enough to discover because, for example, it's published on the council's website but, if you don't try to find out, you'll never know from her utterances, performance or attitude to her constituents. She runs on a particular party ticket because she's more in sync with that party's policies than the other's, but every single constituent in her division is, to her, simply a Jamaican who she must help if she can.

Her stubborn refusal to affix party blinkers in carrying out her duties as councillor has frequently landed her in hot water with her own party's supporters, who hold fast to the old-fashioned ways of dividing scarce benefits. Yet, her obvious commitment to, and passion for service have resulted in her winning two re-elections by ever-multiplying margins during her 12 years as councillor.

In my piece on Donna Engerbretson, the young Minnesotan whose Jamaican vacation turned into a lifelong nightmare, I described Donna as a beautiful person, inside and out. This description also applies to Camile, who is endowed with a similar compassion, empathy and enthusiasm.

Work at Caymanas Park

Reluctantly thrust into the role of acting CEO of Caymanas Track Limited, she's shown an uncanny knack for thinking outside the box and has introduced imaginative, yet inexpensive, new practices, maximising hitherto underutilised industry human resources. The immediate success of her bold innovations bodes well for her as a future national policymaker.

In my more than four decades at the racetrack, the most poignant moment I've witnessed was the recent homage paid to former jockey Barrington Smith, winner of Caymanas Park's first race. Camile personally searched for Smith, long believed deceased, and found him living in parlous conditions.

She then produced a nostalgic, tear-jerking tribute featuring Smith's entrance by limousine with police escort; a guard of honour from current leading jockeys with whips forming a tunnel; and a musically enhanced ceremony befitting a national hero. Barrington Smith, although confined to a wheelchair, was overwhelmed. He kept flashing his whip and repeating, "Me win, me win!" There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

What's not so widely known is that, on her watch, CTL has, without fanfare, continued to look about Smith's welfare. As a result, he's walking again and will soon undergo urgently needed surgery previously inaccessible to him.

Camile Buchanan is a rising political star and a credit to public service. You can believe politics is irredeemably dirty or you can believe there's hope. If her principles survive her rise to the top, Camile could be our children's best hope.

Peace and love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.

TO OUR READERS:

The Gleaner welcomes your views on any issue. Letters must bear the writer's signature, scripted, printed or typed name, full address and telephone number where possible.

When submitting a pen name, kindly submit full name separately; names and addresses will be withheld on request. Letters to the editor of 300 words or less have the best chance of being published. We routinely condense letters and seek to correct errors of fact, spelling and punctuation. We may use letters in other print and electronic products of The Gleaner Company Ltd.

Please send your letters to The Gleaner Company Ltd, PO Box 40, 7 North Street, Kingston; fax to 922-6223 or email letters@gleanerjm.com.