Mark Wignall | Road politics and fault in JLP manifesto

I live on a road that is both a politician’s nightmare and his crude blessings. The general state of the surface of one end of the road reminds one of pictures of post Hiroshima, Japan. The entire surface needs ripping up and a total rebuild.

At the other end of the road exists just a normal road with enough potholes that would make us say it is better than most. One would think that the government side would want to rip up the bombed-out end and shout the fix so most could hear. Well, no.

The part of the road I live on is the ‘normal’ side. No real big fixing is needed in this political campaign season. But, a few days ago as I sat on the verandah, the NWA repair crew arrived. I figured it could be just less than 7 sq ft dug out. Add to that three inches for depth. A pick, shovel and wheelbarrow. I began to laugh.

Half an hour later, I drove out to determine if the small repair crew was in other places throughout the community. I stopped and asked a man who could be the supervisor why the bombed-out part was not being attended to. He saw me point down the road so he knew the section. He knew the political impossibility, for now. He, too, laughed.

Then, the day after, from two people in an early morning jog. “Yu si dem a dig up road? Dem a look di vote Mek dem fix it fuss. Mi wi vote for dem di day after election.” What I cannot figure is, why is the finishing crew not right behind in formation style? Maybe I just refuse to see it as the political scam it is.

A few months ago, the road surface was being redone. The supervisor was a Chinese national. One didn’t need to ask. As the road was completed, it occurred to me that the roadway just off Meadowbrook Main was laid out as a template for repairs to small, arterial roads in Jamaica. That is urgently needed.

FAULT IN JLP MANIFESTO

A reader writes, “Last Thursday in your August 3 Gleaner piece, you referred to the JLP manifesto for the 2025 general election. I decided to look at that manifesto. Mark, after looking at it, it is nice and glossy, lots of good photos and impressive statistics. However, I have doubts about the statistics used in the manifesto.

“For example, on the achievements as to crime, the manifesto proudly states over 6,000 new police officers have been added since 2018 and the JCF is now 14,000 members strong. The word ‘added’ to me means those 6,000 are part of the current JCF and there has been a force increase of 6,000.

“On June 9, 2019, The Gleaner ran an article and quoted then Commissioner Anderson. He stated in the article in question that, at the end of 2018, the JCF had 11,790 members. If 6,000 new officers have been added since 2018, then the JCF should have 17,790 members. But the manifesto states that the current force size is 14,000.00. So where are the missing 3,790 members of the JCF? I can understand an error of a few hundred, but 3,790? It may be 6,000 were hired but the JCF did not increase in size by 6,000 since 2018.

“There are retirements, terminations, disabilities, and deaths. Why not be more truthful? I cannot trust the statistics about the JCF and, since there is such a glaring error, in my opinion as to the increase in size of the JCF, I have doubts about the other statistics.” The reader’s numbers seem to be more accurate than those previously stated.

GUNSHOTS

The last time I witnessed gun violence (and electoral malpractice at the same time) was in the 1993 elections. It wasn’t particularly ferocious and it wasn’t widespread. But, guns were left over from a time when it was in vogue to carry handguns, sling automatic rifles, and fire them when political noise was called for.

One senses that, although a few more incidents of gunfire in earshot of political meetings are certain to happen, any form of political war will be absent. As I have said before, there is no real need for the political gun. The minister has long moved beyond that. The criminal don who is always trying to tighten the embrace on the community is on his own, renting a share in the gangs they’re most comfortable with.

The politicians who used to be ‘palsy walsy’ with community criminals also had interest in the don’s guns. Now that connection is not just frayed, it is close to bursting and, in many instances, it doesn’t exist. Those politicians are more comfortable watching cable TV, sipping a late liquor at 10:30 p.m. and gargling before bed.

The young politicians are generally not into attracting a political culture of guns, blood, tears and death. So, for now for the elections, I believe we will be in politically safe territory.

Plus, I am not in the mood for surprises.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com