Peter Espeut | Thirty years and counting

I wrote my first regular column for this newspaper on February 17, 1993, which makes today my 30th anniversary as a Gleaner opinion writer. I began on Wednesdays, taking over the space (I never attempted to fill the shoes) of Professor Carl Stone who was unwell. Thirty years and 1,500 columns later I am still here, but for the last decade or so they publish me on Fridays.

Regular readers of this newspaper have come to know where I come from and where I stand on most issues. I am most known for my advocacy of sustainable development and environmental conservation, and have championed many causes in this space. I am pleased to have played a part over the years in the protection of the integrity of Hope Gardens (from housing), Salt River (from the construction of a port to export limestone), the Hellshire Hills (from UDC housing), the Goat Islands (from a deep water port), and part of the Cockpit Country (from bauxite mining). The only death threat I received over the years was to try to get me to back off my opposition to an environmentally degrading project. I ignored it! The project was halted, and I am still alive, thank God!

Yet unsustainable development continues. Knuckles are sometimes rapped, but no one is ever brought to book for marine and riverine pollution, deforestation, or illegal sand mining. The private sector – who keep the wheels of politics turning with their substantial donations – is allowed to do basically whatever it wants.

I have paid a lot of attention to our chronic mismanagement of our marine fisheries, which continues to this day. Successive governments seem more interested in incumbency (and pulling in the perps) than in effective governance. I can’t say that in thirty years there has been more than cosmetic improvement in marine resource management. We still have some of the most overfished waters in the world!

CHAMPIONED OTHER CAUSES

But I have championed other causes, notably an end to apartheid in our education system, which perpetuates Jamaica’s colour-class nexus by holding some back as it promotes others. I am amazed that such an obviously evil system has been allowed to continue, despite the Davis Commission (2004) and the Patterson Commission (2021), reports from both of which have been largely ignored.

I have been an avid supporter of the return of cross-island passenger and freight trains, and for light rail transport from Portmore to Papine and from Parade to Constant Spring. Investing in more roads and more private cars is not the way to a sustainable future. But some benefit from the imports and the construction contracts, so I am largely ignored.

During my three-decade run there have been seven general elections, and the government changed hands three times. But it doesn’t matter which party is in power: over the 19 years of People’s National Party (PNP) government I was branded Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and over the 11 years of JLP incumbency I have been branded as PNP.

The truth is that in my hundreds of columns over the years I have maintained my distance from both major parties and their private sector backers, freely criticising and praising where deserved. When election time comes, I swallow my spit and vote against whoever. My sensitive conscience will not allow me to join or find common cause with either of the two political parties which have spawned the evil garrison system which distorts our democracy, and which – until today – they actively keep in existence.

I have seen popular support for both parties decline over the last 30 years; maybe it is because some of my readers have also developed sensitive consciences.

Another theme running through the last thirty years is my fight against political corruption. In the face of rising public anger, both orange and green politicians have joined hands and hearts and have resisted a requirement for transparency in campaign contributions, which would expose cronyism in the award of government contracts and waivers. I sense that the patience of the public with corruption is wearing thin, and pressure is about to “buss pipe”! It will be a time for the church and the rest of civil society to ensure that the new anti-corruption regime is thorough and loophole-free.

SOLID FOUNDATION

My public and private ethical positions derive from my solid foundation in philosophy and theology, which are exposed naked in my columns. My positions are well thought out, and I continue to be disappointed that almost all those who oppose the views I propose do not even try to engage my arguments. The last respectable prejudice in Jamaica is anti-Catholicism, and instead of reasoning with me in the comments section provided below my columns, many of my detractors stoop to abuse me and my Church. I suppose it makes them feel good, but it really does not advance the cause of truth.

A fundamentalist or secularist position – genuinely held – is a good foundation for robust debate. My fear is that many people have not sufficiently thought out their positions, and flee from honest debate into abuse. As I begin my second 30-year stint writing for this newspaper, I look forward to a more profound engagement with my readers.

The Gleaner has put up with me for the last three decades. To be fair, they have solidly encouraged me, increasing my word limit over the years. For this I am grateful.

I have not been afraid to publicly disagree with the positions this newspaper takes on ethical issues such as abortion and homosexuality. It is testament to the best traditions of a free press that this dialogue is ongoing.

It would have been otherwise if you, my readers, had not indicated your support in various ways. My appreciation goes out to you all, even those who seek to abuse me. It makes me stronger!

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and development scientist. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com