Peter Espeut | Squeaky clean: too much to expect?

This month I had intended to continue on the history theme from last week, but the egregious state of current affairs demands comment.

Is there anything a Jamaican can do that can disqualify him or her from holding public office? Or seeking public office? Apparently not!

Well, let me take that back! Actually there are a few disqualifying situations. According to the Constitution of Jamaica (written by politicians with themselves in mind), only if you are under a court-imposed sentence of death, or actually in jail serving a sentence of more than six months, or bankrupt, or certifiably insane, or by virtue of your own act, “under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign Power or State”, would you be disqualified from being able to sit in the Jamaican parliament.

The bar the politicians have set for themselves is actually pretty low. You can be sentenced to jail time – and actually be in prison – and remain a parliamentarian as long as it is not more than six months; you can be in jail serving your sentence and contest an election (as long as it is not more than six months of incarceration).

I think I see why they would allow jailbirds in parliament and to contest elections: possibly some budding national hero might have been jailed for civil disobedience or for aggressive political agitation; I agree that should not disqualify anyone; (we may soon need that kind of activism).

But our founding fathers did write the Jamaican Constitution to allow convicted murderers, rapists, fraudsters, gunmen, garrison dons and drug dealers to sit in the honourable houses of parliament, as long as they have completed their jail sentences, no matter how long they be.

CREDIT FOR FORESIGHT

Maybe we need to give our founding fathers credit for their foresight! Or lower them in our estimation.

You can have a case pending in court and still contest an election. You can be under investigation by the Integrity Commission for illicit enrichment and still run for public office. Vybz Kartel – against whom proceedings for murder have been discontinued – has publicly stated that he is considering running for public office, and the People’s National Party had no problem placing him on the stage with the members of parliament and senators. The way the politicians have written our Constitution, Kartel would not be disqualified.

And the political parties have no shame: on one side of the House they are happy to sit next to a man who does not have the honesty and forthrightness to admit to beating his lover with a chair, but says that he has redeemed himself by undergoing counselling (which is a back-hand admission of guilt); and on the other side they have no problem with putting up a candidate convicted – not once, but twice – for having prohibited drugs in his possession.

No better herring! No better barrel!

As a churchman and preacher I will be the first to admit that we are all sinners, and that genuine and heartfelt repentance by any man or woman deserves forgiveness. But sensible school boards should not hire convicted – if repentant – paedophiles; and prudent banks should not hire convicted – if repentant – fraudsters.

Our Constitution holds political aspirants and politicians to no particular moral standard, as long as they are able to avoid conviction. They can be accused of anything, or suspected of anything, and still hold the highest political offices in the land.

SET THE BAR HIGHER

Surely we should set the bar higher than that? Surely we must expect more of persons passing laws to govern us, who control the security forces and intelligence agencies, and keep the public purse?

But then all the polls show that Jamaicans believe their politicians to be corrupt, and yet vote for them anyway, albeit with a smaller and smaller voter turnout. Politicians believe that voters don’t care about corruption, and are bare-faced in their attacks upon the Integrity Commission, in keeping their affairs secret, and in leaving huge loopholes in anti-corruption legislation.

I cry shame on both the People’s National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party! Decent Jamaicans will have to hold their noses as they vote for either of you!

But there have been exemplary men and women among us. I note with regret the passing of: Dr Alfred Sangster – the man who moved CAST into UTech; Professor Emeritus Sir Roy Augier, who taught me and thousands of others at The University of the West Indies about ourselves and our past; and Archbishop Emeritus of Kingston the Most Rev Edgerton Clarke, who ordained me and encouraged me in my ministry. Jamaica and the Caribbean is much the better because of these big men. May others rise to take their places.

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and a Roman Catholic deacon. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com