Michael Abrahams | The absurdity of political tribalism

Recently, I came across a viral video of People’s National Party (PNP) supporters participating in a demonstration. The protest concerned the appointment of an accountant, Dennis Chung, to head the Financial Investigations Division (FID). The bone of contention was that the requirement for law enforcement experience was removed from the job description before handing the position to Chung, who not only has no such experience, but had publicly uttered a statement defending the prime minister in at least one area of concern regarding the investigation of him by the Integrity Commission for illicit enrichment.

The problem was that some of the demonstrators did not understand what they were demonstrating about. For me, there were two main takeaways from that incident. The first is that it served as a reminder of why I should vote. There is no way I will be staying home on Election Day, knowing that people like that will have a hand in determining who will run my country. Second, it reminded me of how stupid political tribalism can be.

One of the things I am grateful for, regarding my upbringing, is that I was not raised in a political household. My father died in 1997 and I had no idea what his political preference was until last year, 2024, when my siblings, who are much older than I am, informed me. On Election Day, my parents would return home with their stained index fingers. I never asked who they voted for and they never told me. The culture I was raised in is the reason why today, as an adult, I have no loyalty to any party. I have voted for both and, on one occasion when I could stomach neither, I went into the voting booth and put the “x” beside an image of a “conquering lion”.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Nowadays, I frequently engage members of the public on social media platforms, and this is where most of my exposure to tribalism has taken place. During Portia Simpson Miller’s second term as prime minister, I became increasingly critical of her and her administration as I lost confidence in their ability to lead. For example, despite health officials being warned about the Chikungunya outbreak two years earlier, they did not adequately prepare the country for the epidemic that hit us in 2014. Also, following the massive fire at the Riverton City landfill in 2015, when the prime minister was taken to task about the crisis and the management of the site, she defended the head of the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA), opining that she should not be blamed because she did not start the fire. Then there was the “dead baby” scandal later that year when then Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson referred to the deceased premature infants as “not babies in the real sense”.

My concerns and criticisms of the Government were rational. But the tribalists were having none of it. Three characteristics of tribalist behaviour were on full display: binary thinking, ‘whataboutism’, and ad hominem attacks. The binary thinking was the assumption that, if I criticise their beloved party, I must be a Labourite, which I am not. After voting for Bruce Golding and being terribly disappointed after the Dudus/Manatt/Tivoli imbroglio, I voted to have Mrs Simpson Miller as my prime minister but found myself being disappointed again. The ‘whataboutism’ was deflecting from the issues at hand and bringing up real or perceived flaws of the opposing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Then there were the ad hominem attacks, like calling me a “dog s**t”. Relationships with some of my colleagues who were Comrades became strained, and a government minister even found it necessary to contact me periodically to berate me. It was as if the prime minister were a deity and by criticising her I committed blasphemy.

FEELING OF DÉJÀ VU

The JLP is once again holding the reins of power, and I am experiencing a feeling of déjà vu. I was initially enamoured with this JLP administration, especially Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. However, as time passed, I made observations that caused me discomfort. Holness presented himself as someone who stood for integrity but I have seen him and his administration pass on opportunities to strengthen transparency and accountability, or act in ways that impede these processes. For example, he promised us an impeachment bill but has not delivered. He has also attempted to have some aspects of the laws governing illicit enrichment changed (while being investigated for illicit enrichment), decided against continuing to have an independent political ombudsman, and opted to remove the auditor general from the Integrity Commission. As with the Simpson Miller administration, I believe my concerns and criticisms are valid.

However, the tribalists are either unable or unwilling to acknowledge their party’s and its leader’s flaws. Thankfully, unlike with the PNP, no government minister has reached out to me to rebuke me, and my relationships with my Labourite friends are intact. However, the same elements of political tribalism are in full force. Once again, I see the binary thinking, being labelled as a Comrade or “PNP operative”, which is ridiculous, especially because I voted for Andrew Holness. There is the whataboutism, with arguments shifting to the PNP, including Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s complexion, which is irrelevant. And, as expected, the ad hominem attacks, with trolls spitting at me in all caps and calling me names such as “germs” and “nasty dregs”.

What tribalists ought to realise is that criticism of their party does not equate to endorsement of the other, and that, if they truly care about their country, they ought not to turn a blind eye to their party’s missteps. This is why I encourage intelligent, educated and non-partisan people who understand the issues the country faces to vote. The tribalists definitely do. But they vote along party lines and are only capable of seeing one of two secondary colours. Why leave the decision of who runs our country to people like that?

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or follow him on X , formerly Twitter, @mikeyabrahams