Jalil Dabdboub | Towards a politics of consensus and continuity

The violence of the 1970s may be long gone, but its scars remain part of the consciousness of our people through inherited political identity. Entire communities were shaped by fear, political patronage, and division. 

The result is a political culture that rewards confrontation over cooperation leaving national problems unresolved while political parties focus on electoral victory rather than national solutions.

Part of Jamaica's challenge is, in essence, a lack of political continuity. The country needs stronger institutions capable of preserving national priorities while allowing vigorous electoral competition. Democratic competition determines who governs but must never disrupt national development.

Our leaders bear significant responsibility for this environment. Political leaders shape public behaviour, with many encouraging hostility for political gain. Rhetoric is frequently designed to mobilise supporters instead of building consensus while political loyalty is rewarded over independent thinking. Both major parties bear responsibility for creating and sustaining this culture.

However, reducing polarisation does not mean reducing political disagreement. Strong opposition parties and vigorous debate are essential in a democracy. Consensus is not beneficial if it weakens debate.

Consensus does not mean agreement on every policy. Consensus means broad agreement on long-term national objectives that remain stable regardless of which party holds power. Parties should continue to compete vigorously over policy approaches and implementation while recognising that certain national goals require continuity across administrations and are non-negotiable.

Such consensus should focus on a limited number of national priorities, for example, crime reduction, educational improvement, economic growth, infrastructure development, and institutional strengthening. Consensus means not only agreeing on these long-term objectives but also committing to a shared framework for achieving them and seeing them through regardless of which administration holds power. Political parties should remain free to debate implementation, but the national goals themselves should remain consistent.

The real problem, then, is not disagreement itself but when political rivalry results in hostility. A vibrant political culture encourages principled disagreement within parties instead of treating dissent as betrayal. Elected representatives should feel empowered to challenge policies on merit as democracies are strengthened when representatives think independently instead of following the party line.

If consensus is to endure beyond individual leaders and electoral cycles, it must be institutionalised. The long-discussed Vale Royal Talks should evolve into a permanent feature of Jamaica's political architecture, providing a structured forum through which Government and Opposition can engage regularly on matters of national significance and shared long-term objectives.

Any such council would need clear mandates, transparent reporting requirements, and meaningful public participation to avoid becoming merely another consultative body with little influence. 

The country urgently needs bipartisan consensus on core national objectives that transcend electoral cycles. National development cannot continue to reset every five years depending on which party holds power. Major infrastructure projects, education reform, crime policy, and economic planning require continuity.

Such agreements would establish a stable framework for addressing long-term challenges while preserving democratic debate over how those objectives should be achieved.

Citizens also have a responsibility to move beyond slavish party loyalty. Too many Jamaicans defend policies simply because they originate from “their side” while dismissing useful ideas from political opponents. That instinct weakens democratic accountability, encourages mediocrity, and retards national development.

A functioning democracy demands critical thinking in which policies should be judged on viability and national benefit rather than party colour. No political party has a monopoly on wisdom, and no administration should be insulated from criticism.

However, Jamaica’s political divisions are not sustained by culture alone. They were also reinforced historically through systems of patronage and dependency. In some communities, access to housing, jobs, contracts, and protection became tied to political affiliation. Political loyalty often carried economic consequences.

As a result, polarisation cannot be reduced through appeals for unity alone. Citizens are less likely to engage independently when economic survival depends on political connections. Any serious effort to reduce tribal politics must, therefore, include reforms that tackle the “curry goat” politics culture while strengthening institutional fairness.

Campaign finance reform should be one part of that process. Jamaica needs stronger disclosure laws for political donations, stricter spending transparency during election campaigns, and an independent enforcement mechanism with real investigative powers. Public trust suffers when citizens believe financial influence operates behind closed doors.

Education is equally critical. Young Jamaicans should leave school understanding how governments function and how democracies fail when political opponents are treated as enemies. Schools should place greater emphasis on civic education, constitutional literacy, respectful debate, and the history of political violence in Jamaica. Civic education must produce citizens capable of resisting misinformation, intimidation, and blind partisanship.

If Jamaica can develop stronger traditions of policy continuity alongside healthy political competition, future governments will be judged less by how effectively they oppose their rivals and more by how successfully they advance national goals. The country's institutions should be strong enough to preserve long-term priorities regardless of electoral outcomes while remaining strong enough to foster democratic debate and change.

Political tribalism may be deeply rooted, but it need not be permanent. Stronger institutions, better civic education, economic fairness, constitutional modernisation, and more responsible leadership can reduce polarisation and rebuild public trust.

If Jamaica is serious about becoming a stronger democracy, then political leaders and citizens must reject the current political culture of confrontation and capture and move towards a politics of consensus and continuity.

The question must never be whether the PNP or the JLP wins. The real question must always be whether Jamaica wins.

Jalil Dabdoub is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com