Launch of the JLP's manifesto

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Tuesday | August 7, 2007

Devon Dick

Lloyd Allen, a member of the JLP's PR team, invited me to the launch of the JLP's manifesto. This enabled me to witness, for the first time, the launch of a political party's manifesto.

I was pleased with the proposal to make the country more business-friendly. According to Mr. Bruce Golding, under a JLP government, it will take a maximum of 90 days to gain approval for investment plans. It will be a one-stop agency and the onus will be on the various government departments to make objections within 90 days. At the present time, investors and contractors claim that plans languish in government agencies and parish councils. This proposal is measurable.

The other commendable proposal was the intention to lay criminal charges against those who misuse public funds if they break government's guidelines. It seems to me that if someone benefits from the breaking of guidelines then he or she should make restitution and/or face criminal charges.

The JLP leader also said that he would make it a criminal offence if politicians break the Political Code of Conduct, that is, those aspects that could be criminalised. Good idea, because politicians must be held accountable for their words.

Criminal offence

In addition, it would have been good if Mr. Golding had also said that it would be a criminal offence for politicians to make promises and not keep them. Too many promises have been made in the past by politicians and not kept. And there is fear that it might happen again. However, if politicians had to give a specific period by which a promise has to be implemented or face charges of public mischief or other charges, then politicians would make promises that are measurable and achievable.

The proposal that no one can serve longer than two terms was met with strong applause from the audience gathered at Jamaica Conference Centre. In addition, I would also like to see parliamentarians retire at 70, since as legislators they make laws making it mandatory for professionals to retire at 60, 65 or 70.

There were some disappointments with the launch. I was disappointed when Mr. Golding said that there were no manifestos for members of the audience, only for members of the press. No reason was given why no manifesto was available for guests, party workers and supporters. It gave me the impression that the launch of the manifesto was a press conference launch and the gathering was just to make up numbers. And I am not making the observation because when I requested a manifesto, I did not get one; it is the principle.

Lateness

In addition, I was told that Mr. Golding would speak at 5 o'clock and I arrived 15 minutes to five. However, the function did not start until 5:20 p.m. with an inspiring prayer by Pastor Alston Henry, chairman of the National Prayer Breakfast Committee. I saw former Senator Ossie Harding ges-ticulating to the 'powers that be', apparently encouraging them to be punctual, but to no avail. Punctuality is also a governance issue. I have seen entertainment reporters mention that a reggae show started 15 minutes late but it is as if we do not expect similar standards from our political representatives.

Furthermore, I did not hear any all-embracing vision statement (apart from the worker waking up to a job and child going to a quality school) and no mission statement.

The highlights for me were the proposals to encourage business, accountability of public officials and politicians and term limits.