Political Discourse in Jamaica

[Blackstar*]

While browsing the pages of the Gleaner and the Observer I've noticed the following pattern:<ul type="square">[*]the opposition party is very tepid indeed and the statements they do make don't seem to be widely publicized
This statement was reported in a news brief in one paper and on the Radio Jamaica web site. I never saw it reported elsewhere, i.e. the other major daily paper.
[*]the party in power NEVER responds to allegations made against it
The rebuttal is made by the JPS although Mr. Mullings directly addressed the govt. regulatory body and ministry in a call to action. The regulatory body fobbed the problem off on the GOJ, from where, like a black hole, it has never come out again.
[*]neither party ever seems to address the common man on the issues and in terms that can be understood by the electorate ("more man have cyar" does not count)
It took a board member in post #19645971 to explain what all the fuss was about. Why the dickens didn't Mr. Mullings say all that in the first place? I may have missed it, but I haven't seen any follow-up from either party after the JPS issued their statement. Does this mean the problem has gone away?[/list]So what do you think? Should the level of discourse be improved and how? Or is it just right as it is?

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
While browsing the pages of the Gleaner and the Observer I've noticed the following pattern:<ul type="square">[*]the opposition party is very tepid indeed and the statements they do make don't seem to be widely publicized
This statement was reported in a news brief in one paper and on the Radio Jamaica web site. I never saw it reported elsewhere, i.e. the other major daily paper.
[*]the party in power NEVER responds to allegations made against it
The rebuttal is made by the JPS although Mr. Mullings directly addressed the govt. regulatory body and ministry in a call to action. The regulatory body fobbed the problem off on the GOJ, from where, like a black hole, it has never come out again.
[*]neither party ever seems to address the common man on the issues and in terms that can be understood by the electorate ("more man have cyar" does not count)
It took a board member in post #19645971 to explain what all the fuss was about. Why the dickens didn't Mr. Mullings say all that in the first place? I may have missed it, but I haven't seen any follow-up from either party after the JPS issued their statement. Does this mean the problem has gone away?[/list]So what do you think? Should the level of discourse be improved and how? Or is it just right as it is?

[/ QUOTE ]

It will take a very long time to explain what is a very simple answer. The PNP leaders like Stalin, General Franco, Mussolini and Hitler used State Repression to their best advantage. It is very dangerous be in disagreement with the PNP in Jamaica and this is not just talking politically.
It is very dangerous to be a Labourite and even more dangerous to be a Labourite with opinions that you express publicly.

Criticism of any move by Government, even in its mildest form is generally met with:<ul type="square">[*]you are a Labourite and all you want to do is oppose, oppose, oppose[*]you don't like progress[*]you find a problem for every solution[*]you don't like good news/you are anti-black/Jamaican/poor[*]you are just playing politics[/list]
This can be all summed up in the following well thought out highly cerebral statements made by various functionaries and worse leaders of the Governing Party:
<ul type="square">[*]Politics is about who get what, when, where and how[*]The fight for scarce goods and spoils have created a polarized society in which we operate as hostile tribes perpetually at war[*]We always think that is best for us to form the Government. Therefore anything that leads us or causes us to form the Government we believe is our best interests and the interests of the country[*]jook dem with the free education/Cuban Dacta
more man have gyal/cyar/house, etc[*]my leeda barn yah[*]In Jamaica, murder is a part of politics[/list]

[Blackstar*]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

What's wrong with this picture? More importantly what is going on in the heads of constituents? Do they really think their lot and that of Jamaica will improve with this kind of thinking? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

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Confronted with information about a number of government scandals prior to the last elections, I heard a Central Kingston woman declare, "Mi nuh care, wi still a go win back". It is this absence of outrage that is nationwide, which convinces me that our situation is not going to change in the foreseeable future. Source

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[Blackstar*]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

This topic doesn't seem to be very inspiring, eh Tuffy? LOL
Anyway here is more fodder for the discussion.

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Manipulating the media
Wignall's World
Mark Wignall
Sunday, August 20, 2006


In the last week or so, the airwaves and the newspapers have been filled with items and stories which have made more than a mention of the prime minister. And, of course, her charming face has been seen on television and in the newspapers.

In weeks prior to that, some in the PNP made the accusation that a significant percentage of JLP politicians have been manipulating the media, as if that exercise by a political party is not within the bounds of the party's ultimate objective - that of winning state power and holding it for as long as possible.

It seems that a few bright heads in the PNP have rediscovered 'manipulation' of the media. I jest, of course, because much of what Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller had to say was national in scope - PetroCaribe, Sandals Whitehouse, new raids (pending) on the surpluses from NIS and NHT, etc - and would have had to be carried anyway.

In the days after the PM made her inaugural budget presentation, I received a few e-mail transmittals from middle-class, educated Portia supporters either softly criticising me for my harsh criticism of her or imploring me to be more patient with her. One even suggested that because she is a woman and hence, more emotional, she would not handle these criticisms well and would instead erupt out of earshot of others, after which she would lock into herself, listen to none and become defensive.

Leaders from any and all persuasions hate to be criticised. The theory presupposes that leaders are all-inclusive. The reality is closer to the truth. Persons become leaders because they tend to have more suggestions/solutions than others, are naturally assertive and aggressive and they are not used to being interrupted or criticised when they are on the way up. Most importantly, leaders tend to believe in themselves before all others.

My criticisms of the PM are quite straightforward. Leave the preaching for the clergyman and engage the people in an ongoing national dialogue. Tell the people the truth about our financial state of affairs. Open up herself to more press conferences where she and her technocrats can spell out to us what more effort is needed from the people and say how our socio-economic salvation is going to be assisted and directed by her own efforts.

Taken as a whole, the media are more powerful than either the PNP or the JLP. All politicians come to know this early so they tend to act 'user-friendly' to various media persons/houses when many of us in the media know that politicians hate our guts.

In the efforts to win and maintain state power, the politician has a range of choices laid out before him. The worst is, and has always been, the use of the gun in terrorising the votes [away] from the other side. Then there is bribing persons to influence the vote.

This can either be in the form of paying one centre of influence (usually a ruthless gunman) or hauling cash directly to the communities where the vote is uncertain.
Third from the bottom is employing very expensive ad campaigns to spread lies or failings of the other side while preening the feathers of its own 'successes' or its intentions. Fourth is the bribing of media persons where moderate amounts are offered to 'cover' a story where the mundane is made into manna from political heaven.

Third is just being nice to the media by employing all of the tactics of the most savvy public relations experts. That covers the cocktail parties and the fetes where media persons are invited to drink, eat and chat for free. Whether it is pate de foi gras or boiled green bananas in pot water, it is still a 'pay-out' of sorts, which is tacitly prefaced by, 'Don't be so hard on me when next I muck up'.

The second and the first are spelling out to the likely voters, through media-covered meetings, the range of policies and issues that the party is carrying to the nation, while degrading the efforts of the 'other side'.

Both the PNP and the JLP are always in the process of taking a newly revamped leadership to the large mass of people. The prime minister has always had a head start on the JLP because Golding is very hard to sell.

He speaks well, says all of the right things, has the perfect body language while delivering a speech, but the electorate judges him by first deducting some approval, while in judging Portia, approval is added before she opens her mouth.

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[Tuff Gong]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
What's wrong with this picture? More importantly what is going on in the heads of constituents? Do they really think their lot and that of Jamaica will improve with this kind of thinking? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
Confronted with information about a number of government scandals prior to the last elections, I heard a Central Kingston woman declare, "Mi nuh care, wi still a go win back". It is this absence of outrage that is nationwide, which convinces me that our situation is not going to change in the foreseeable future. Source

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This is the real Jamaica. The politics scarce goods and spoils has been a very successful tool.
Keep them hungry and illiterate and then give enough of them a few dollars and they will catch and keep the slaves for you.

In the election to replace PJ after he stepped down as the MP in his constituency one lady declared that she was going to vote PNP because M. Menlie gave her a house.

Mr. M. Menlie has been dead for years now and last held any office in 1992, yet the power of the curry-goat politricks is so strong that a gift given in an election year, 5-10-15-20 years ago is still enough to buy ones vote in any future elections.

[wolmersboy]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

Before the level of the political discourse in Jamaica can be upgraded, the population as a whole needs to become more sophisticated in matters political. Children in school need to be taught citizenship and history so they can learn how to function more effectively in a democratic society. Critical thinking and reasoning need to be encouraged. Blindly following anyone--politician or religious leader--is a sure way to end up in disaster.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
Before the level of the political discourse in Jamaica can be upgraded, the population as a whole needs to become more sophisticated in matters political. Children in school need to be taught citizenship and history so they can learn how to function more effectively in a democratic society. Critical thinking and reasoning need to be encouraged. Blindly following anyone--politician or religious leader--is a sure way to end up in disaster.

[/ QUOTE ]

We use to be thought Civics but it was held to be not needed under Blackman Time Now.

Of course this leads to a few other admissions or choice revelations from the leadership.

On the issues of corruption on it effects on the party vying for elections.

Scandals and talk about corruption don't mean too much, when it comes to voting time all that is forgotten.

On laws and the government’s duty to be bounded by them:

The law is not a shackle!

One playing by the rules:

In Jamaica the man who plays by the rules is the man that gets shafted.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

I agree with your assessment and that of wolmersboy, yet the Opposition has not come through with a strong, unifying, anti-corruption message. Democracy does not and cannot thrive without a powerful opposition which offers a plausible alternative for the electorate.

The PNP is failing Jamaica, but the JLP seems unable to convince people of this most obvious fact.

At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, I wonder if the Opposition really have better policies for Jamaica or are they secretly happy with (and benefitting from) the status quo?

[Blackstar*]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

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Blackman Time Now.

The law is not a shackle!

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PJ did give us some catchy slogans though - “more man have cell-phone, more man have car, more man have gal” being another one. The Opposition should get some good lyrics from a dancehall artiste. LOL

Which leads me to another thought: since the masses aren't as educated as they could be, perhaps popular culture could be used to better communicate with people. I used to love the political satire of T&amp;T calypso and wished for a similar tradition in JA.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
I agree with your assessment and that of wolmersboy, yet the Opposition has not come through with a strong, unifying, anti-corruption message. Democracy does not and cannot thrive without a powerful opposition which offers a plausible alternative for the electorate.

The PNP is failing Jamaica, but the JLP seems unable to convince people of this most obvious fact.

At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, I wonder if the Opposition really have better policies for Jamaica or are they secretly happy with (and benefitting from) the status quo?

[/ QUOTE ]

The answer to the above in you post below.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Blackman Time Now.

The law is not a shackle!

[/ QUOTE ]

PJ did give us some catchy slogans though - “more man have cell-phone, more man have car, more man have gal” being another one. The Opposition should get some good lyrics from a dancehall artiste. LOL

Which leads me to another thought: since the masses aren't as educated as they could be, perhaps popular culture could be used to better communicate with people. I used to love the political satire of T&amp;T calypso and wished for a similar tradition in JA.

[/ QUOTE ]

The PNP has catchy gutter phrases to match their pork barrel politics. Who can beat the?
They are very good at giving the people what they want, but it this good for Jamaica?

As to the Opposition not stirring the minds of the people, they need to but maybe not as would be overstood in the traditional sense.
What they seems need is, a smarter Eddie Blinds. One who is willing to go to the trenches, a man like Audrey Shaw who will tell them that the JLP need not put one single policy forward, because under the Westminster System the Opposition is a Government in waiting, if the party in power cannot do the job then they must either resign, call an election or be forced to call one.

The Opposition and other Jamaicans have put forward many workable plans, not one has been given a chance by the people of Jamaica or even spat upon PNP in Government.

This iteration of the PNP in Government has been the most advised, the most pampered and yet the most inept. They have more consultants than has ever been employed to any Government in the history of Jamaica, since Independence. Now if they cannot do the job all the Opposition needs to do is to confront them, get them to give the Jamaican voters a chance to try something different.

..but we are talking about Jamaica and as Bob said:

We keep on fighting
And when we are going to get some food
Yu brother got to be your enemy

So the PNP plays the divide and rule game like no other.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica


Here is the answer to all the questions you posed.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

NHT surplus = Robbing the poor to give to the poor
Venezuela funds = More loans
Church votes = [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70374-lipsrsealed.gif[/img]

In sum, this all sounds rather hopeless, as if the only thing left to do is fill one's pockets while one can. Is that so? Tings can nevah bettah? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
NHT surplus = Robbing the poor to give to the poor
Venezuela funds = More loans
Church votes = [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70374-lipsrsealed.gif[/img]

In sum, this all sounds rather hopeless, as if the only thing left to do is fill one's pockets while one can. Is that so? Tings can nevah bettah? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

To continue this diss-course.

The most powerful official of the GOJ next to the Prime Minister, the Minister Of Finance tells us that it is indeed hopeless under his and is comrades reign:

On two occasions he told us that Jamaicans are not hard workers and that is why the GOJ allows the foreign investors to bring in even labourers to work on their projects.

He has described the young people in his constituency between 15 and 35 as being uneducated, unemployable and irredeemable.

He has also said Jamaicans are over-taxed, yet he is finding even more un-creative ways to finance his giveaways.

Of course the piece de resistance is his revelation that when it was time to pay the police and the firemen and he went to his creditors in Paris and Milan they are not concerned about the social conditions in Jamaica, all they care about his Jamaica's ability to pay its debts.

So are we in a hopeless situation or not?

[Blackstar*]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

<font color="blue">Somehow, I don't think PSM will agree to this. It's a good sign that Golding is getting aggressive though.
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'BRING IT ON!' - Bruce Golding challenges PM to political debate
published: Sunday | September 3, 2006

Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

Despite recent poll findings placing him as the underdog to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding is challenging her to a series of debates ahead of the upcoming general election.

Mr. Golding, raring to match debating skills with the charismatic Prime Minister, told The Sunday Gleaner that he would welcome having "one-a-week" and not just after the date of the election is announced. Apparently bolstered by favourable opinion poll findings, the Prime Minister on the weekend alerted party functionaries to prepare themselves for a general election.

The opportunity for Golding to debate Simpson Miller might be presented if a privately-funded effort to put on the debates is accepted by the two major political parties. Both have acknowledged receiving an invitation from the National Debate Commission to participate in pre-election debates.

Christopher Castriota, communications officer with the governing People's National Party acknowledged that the party had received a proposal to engage in the debates. The matter was being carefully considered, Castriota said.

'Lack of direction'
Appearing unfazed by the recent slew of unfavourable poll results, Mr. Golding decried the Prime Minister's performance, citing a "lack of direction" and a failure to define her leadership. "Her prime ministership has to be about more than dipping into the Housing Trust and dipping into the National Insurance Fund," scoffed the Opposition Leader.

Ironically, Mrs. Simpson Miller gets less favourable ratings than her predecessor, P.J. Patterson, from Mr. Golding. Patterson, he said, was always able to "hold a cohesive organisation of government together" and give a clear indication of the direction in which his administration was headed, even if there was discomfort with some of his policy choices. On the other hand, Golding claimed, there was no such direction or cohesiveness to the current administration.

[wolmersboy]

Re: Political Discourse in Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
<font color="blue">Somehow, I don't think PSM will agree to this. It's a good sign that Golding is getting aggressive though.
---------------------------------------------------------</font>

'BRING IT ON!' - Bruce Golding challenges PM to political debate
published: Sunday | September 3, 2006

Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

Despite recent poll findings placing him as the underdog to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding is challenging her to a series of debates ahead of the upcoming general election.

Mr. Golding, raring to match debating skills with the charismatic Prime Minister, told The Sunday Gleaner that he would welcome having "one-a-week" and not just after the date of the election is announced. Apparently bolstered by favourable opinion poll findings, the Prime Minister on the weekend alerted party functionaries to prepare themselves for a general election.

The opportunity for Golding to debate Simpson Miller might be presented if a privately-funded effort to put on the debates is accepted by the two major political parties. Both have acknowledged receiving an invitation from the National Debate Commission to participate in pre-election debates.

Christopher Castriota, communications officer with the governing People's National Party acknowledged that the party had received a proposal to engage in the debates. The matter was being carefully considered, Castriota said.

'Lack of direction'
Appearing unfazed by the recent slew of unfavourable poll results, Mr. Golding decried the Prime Minister's performance, citing a "lack of direction" and a failure to define her leadership. "Her prime ministership has to be about more than dipping into the Housing Trust and dipping into the National Insurance Fund," scoffed the Opposition Leader.

Ironically, Mrs. Simpson Miller gets less favourable ratings than her predecessor, P.J. Patterson, from Mr. Golding. Patterson, he said, was always able to "hold a cohesive organisation of government together" and give a clear indication of the direction in which his administration was headed, even if there was discomfort with some of his policy choices. On the other hand, Golding claimed, there was no such direction or cohesiveness to the current administration.

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I think having debates is a fantastic idea. Put the issues out there. Let the people hear for themselves what vision the party leaders have for Jamaica. It would go a long ways to help raise the level of political discourse.