Building a new Jamaica

Supporters of the People's National Party (PNP) taste blood and are moving in for the kill! The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) hacks are turning up the volume in support of their compromised leader and party. And in the mean time, the numbers steadily grow of those who believe that both parties have lost the moral right to govern.

Those who search for silver linings in every dark cloud will not have to look very hard. If the talk on the street is anything to go by, support for the PNP and the JLP, both mired in corruption scandals and tainted by links with criminal gangs, is waning.

Where are the polls when you need them most? The number of die-hard party supporters (I think the word "die-hearted" is much more colourful and appropriate) has been declining over the last decade, and an acceleration in this trend at this time would not be unreasonable. Jamaicans are much less "licky-licky" today than before, and in any case, there are much less scarce benefits and spoils from the parties to go around. I would be very interested to see the results of a scientific political poll right now!

razor thin

Is the Golding government about to fall? Would it survive a vote of no confidence in the House of Parliament? We all know that the Government's majority is razor thin, but that if everyone is present and votes along party lines, such a motion cannot succeed. But would everyone be present on the day of such a vote (i.e. would some absent themselves), or would everyone vote with their party? I believe so. Despite the growing anti-party sentiment within the general public, our politics today is no less tribal.

What if people took to the streets to bring down the Government? I don't think there is much danger of that. I do not detect much support or interest at this time for a return to power of the PNP any time soon. It would be interesting to see the results of a scientific poll on this point.

Yet there is widespread disquiet in the country. The two-party garrison system we have in Jamaica has fewer and fewer backers, yet the few backers and funders of the system are rich and powerful. I am told that Jamaica is being described abroad as a "captured state" - held hostage to criminal special interests.

Our Westminster-based political system offers us few if any options as a way forward. Removing this lot will only usher in the other corrupt lot. What other legal options do we have to transcend this crisis, this time of profound threat and yet great opportunity for a New Jamaica?

Somehow, both parties must be brought down. No matter how much their public support wanes, for the right amount of curry goat and rum each party will always be able to rent-a-crowd and be able to demonstrate support from the masses; and both sides possess elements good at breaking up adverse demonstrations.

holding the key

I believe that the private sector holds the key to Jamaica's future - in more ways than one. Neither party can survive for long without outside funding, and both parties can be brought to their knees by their donors withholding funding. True, Jamaica's private sector has long been compromised; until now they have funded the garrisons and the guns, and they have accepted seats on government boards, lucrative contracts and national honours. But they are not a lost cause; there are good people within the private sector. The die-hearted ones will always make their hefty political donations, but hopefully these are in the minority.

I believe that the Church, if she is true to her mission, must counsel her members to join in this effort to force our political parties to bring an end to institutionalised corruption. To a certain extent the church, until now, has also been compromised. The Church has the responsibility to disturb the consciences of her members enough such that they cease funding a corrupt political system.

We messed up our last opportunity to build a New Jamaica. Are we going to waste this one too?

Peter Espeut is an environmentalist and a rural development consultant. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com