Political parties have to work hard to gain hegemony

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Good rulers work with two tools – power and hegemony or leadership. Using them to assess our two main political parties can give clarity to current events.

Ruling through its power, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) declares states of emergency (SOEs) as the Jamaica Constabulary Force showcase its technological advances (a major coup for Commissioner Antony Anderson), increases the size of the military, rejects and even blocks reports that criticise it for corruption, and much more. A ruler-hopeful Comrades party, on the other hand, is seeking power by polls that reveal growing election numbers and rouse its popular base.

So, a clash between the parties over the exercise of power is to be expected, the People’s National Party (PNP) focusing on the JLP’s numerous failures. However, in the struggle for power, hegemony is just as, if not more, crucial.

In the JLP’s case, an honest judgement would have to conclude that Andrew Holness has lost direction. He lost the intellectual and moral leadership of the country by the outrageous 230 per cent salary increase he gave to the political class. Most Jamaicans took the salary hike as an insult, a vicious, backhanded slap in the face. Holness can control the movements of the people with SOEs, but he has lost their hearts and minds.

The PNP, for its part, has not won hegemony. It is yet to come forward with the vision and the policies ( The Gleaner editorial of July 7) that another set of leaders would need to offer to Jamaicans to win their consent. It has been waffling over the Constitution, cut no decisive path in education, and happily accepts the disgusting salary increase even as Mark Golding talks of rollback and only 20 per cent.

The PNP cannot afford complacency. It is highly unlikely but not impossible for Holness to regain hegemony. Unlikely, because in the recent Cabinet reshuffle (so-called), he shied away entirely from the needed education and Constitution leadership changes. As for salary increase rollback, Peter Espeut may be right – sighting a possible election loss, the JLP has decided that to walk away with pockets deep enough to last a decade is good enough.

In attending as we have to the political dimension, we must not lose sight of the economy. The administration speaks often of its achievements in lower unemployment, South Coast Highway and other infrastructure, stable currency rate and fiscal prudence. Compared to the massive salary increase for the political class, these deeds matter little in light of the relentless weekly hike in food prices in Coronation Market, and markets of every kind.

People are hurting. This is where the rubber hits the road and right now it is burning. In this regard, both parties have work to do to gain hegemony.

HORACE LEVY