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Showing true colours
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner : Friday | August 10, 2007
Heather Robinson
The ability of human beings to resolve (some of) their differences is one of the characteristics that separate us from some animals. Resolutions are usually accomplished through dialogue, and there are times when it is necessary to have a mediator. Mediators come wearing different clothing. The most obvious are the police and the judge. Children use parents and teachers, and in some situations it is necessary to use a minister of religion or counsellor.
Jamaica has a Political Ombudsman whose responsibility is to mediate where there are political/partisan conflicts, and where possible, work to ensure that situations are resolved and kept under control. The ombudsman is a bishop of a church, and is himself no stranger to politics, as he was the founding chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) when it was formed in 1995. In recent times some politicians and citizens - including some who are now being led by a founding member of the NDM - have started to question his utility value, as they believe that he has not been as successful as they would have wanted in preventing so-called political violence.
Last opportunity
The ombudsman's ability to resolve problems will continue to be tested before election day on August 27.
Nomination day was on Tuesday and now there is only one other big day left. During the next 16 days, Jamaicans will be given our last opportunity to determine which candidate and political party are genuinely committed to a peaceful election, and a peaceful Jamaica. But are there any signs that one can use to make such determinations?
On Tuesday each of the 146 persons who have offered themselves as a candidate was given an opportunity to show his or her true colours. For the most part this was a competition between orange and green, but there was also the numbers competition as members of the two major political parties tried to outdo each other. For my own part, however, the true test of political maturity was demonstrated in how each candidate, and those immediately around them, conducted themselves.
It was good to see that some constituents were able to dance and hug each other, to share a drink, and in one situation conduct a marching band for an opponent. But is there any logical explanation as to why the brother of a Jamaica Labour Party candidate boxed and manhandled a People's National Party member?
Sick and tired
Jamaica is sick and tired, repulsed and outraged when politicians believe that the best way to show their colours includes "chucking badness" and using force to try to get support. Gone are the days when one can attribute such behaviour to youthful exuberance. Jamaicans are not waiting to be led by a set of political goons and outlaws who believe that the best way to show political strength is to have one's brother behave like a thug dressed in the clothes and trappings of the Jamaican upper class. We must turn our backs on such be-haviour, especially when it seems to be sanctioned by a late nominee.
The best way to do this is to turn our backs on such actions and by responding with dignity and by reporting the incident to the police. It is only by offering the other cheek that we will be able to expose to electors who is the real rose between the two thorns.
May we never return to the politics of 'badmanism' and the hugging up of this type of infantile attempt to regain political power. May the people of Jamaica reject all such candidates, and demonstrate on August 27 how repulsed we are by that type of politics, and make them enter Gordon House as visitors to the gallery; and may all fathers begin to set better examples and control their sons.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
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