Chester BurgessAGAINST THE background of a mind-boggling near-decade of decay in Jamaica characterised by such as economic stagnation, budgetary crisis, much crime and violence on one side of the coin, while on the other you find a crescendo of clamour for justice and a conviction that corruption is rife and rampant this fortified by the resignation of a parliamentary member of the ruling party, citing corruption inter alia all coverging on the conclusion that Jamaica has been led astray, any glance at a country in a comparable condition is inescapably mind-boggled. After all, the vision of tomorrow is filtered by the lenses of today.
Myopia, an island state in the German Ocean, some thousand miles west of Nigeria and a similar distance south of Iraq, is in the same archipelago as Absurdia, Twerpia, Youtopya et al, not geographically but in a governance sea where are to be found the states which the rest of the world feel sorry for indeed its people are frequently referred to as Myopians.
Myopia gained independence from Britain in the early 60s, a cordial separation from that Queen-led country. As Myopia achieved Commonwealth status the Queen became head of state, to whom Myopians, politicians and others, owed allegiance. A legacy of that separation was the Myopian continuation of recourse to the British Privy Council as the court of last resort, an arrangement that has been eminently satisfactory, except to the Myopian political leader of today.
Against a background of widespread dissatisfaction and disgust at the performance of the government he leads, Prime Minister Quentin King decided on a master manoeuvre after all he'd been poll-rated as the worst government leader in Myopia's history. He would lead the Myopian people from the memory of colonialism, for which they would be grateful and popularity would come his way. He announced his avowed intent to release Myopian people from the memory of colonialism, for which they would be grateful and popularity would come his way. He announced his avowed intent to release Myopian justice from the shackle of resort to the British Privy Council, in favour of a contemplated Archipelago Court of Justice (ACJ).
King didn't put it into words, but it was transparently obvious that he expected the dark-skinned Myopians to appreciate his courageous leadership in rescuing Myopia from the dominance of white justice. After all, the Privy Council Lords didn't look like them, not evoking the sort of comfort he felt when he was among fellow-Utopians. Then to strengthen his case he tried to have people believe that there had been British expression of a preference for non-involvement with the Myopian justiciary process; but this was unproductive as it was shown to be based on unreality.
However, it turned out that the expected groundswell of ovation didn't materialise. To begin with, it emerged that not all the archipelago states were enthusiastic about the ACJ, at both the official and legal practitioner levels, this against the background reality that none of the non-Myopian partners had cause for complaint against Privy Council performance. But a case for cause was now to be made by Myopia's Quentin King. His country boasted one of the highest murder rates on earth, and in a strategic effort to show that he was on the side of law and order, and was prepared to do all possible to halt the crime and violence that had come to characterise Myopia, he was ready to have convicted murderers hanged.
Hanging
Then it came to pass that a recent local case referred to the Privy Council abroad had resulted in a decision counter to a hanging verdict on the grounds that the trial procedure had not been up to mark. Given the fact that hanging had been abolished in Britain, King sought to marshal a collective conviction that the Lords would be biased against hanging, and that murder-related appeals reaching them would tend to lead to judgements favouring the accused. Besides, their Lordships weren't familiar with the culture of Myopia. To his astonishment and disappointment this stance found favour with very few.
Inside Myopia, while most people accepted that in time resort to the Privy Council would be a thing of the past, very many felt that the present was not the time for parting, this contention based on five main considerations. Firstly, they weren't suspicious of the Privy Council: the fact that hanging did not take place in England had nothing to do with decisions regarding cases from countries where hanging was legal their Lordships weren't concerned with the propriety of hanging convicted murderers, but with the merits of the case made for or against the accused. Secondly the state of the justice process left much to be desired. Thirdly, while relationship with the Privy Council doesn't cost the government anything, poor and strapped Myopia shouldn't commit itself to contribution to an ACJ which it couldn't afford. Fourthly there were expressions of uncertainty regarding the procedures and practices that would apply to the selection of appointees to the ACJ. Finally, why couldn't Myopia construct its own final court of appeal?
Given all of this concern there arose a very strong viewpoint that it would be preferable to take the matter to the nation by way of referendum rather than have the issue resolved through a simple Assembly decision, that is to say at King's wish and command. But King, relying on the fact that Myopia's constitution didn't prescribe a referendum, declared that there would be no such thing: he would proceed, and when the next general elections were held the populace would decide whether this move should be considered a favourable or unfavourable feature of his government's performance and prospects, to say nothing of his own future prospects. His declaration was defiant and stubborn rather than buoyant, and commentators described his posture as arrogant, dictatorial, as well as disrespectful and contemptuous of the feelings of the people.
Whether or not his group wins the promised elections he will have lost favourable input into his forthcoming campaign. The non-popularity of the non-referendum Privy Council move could affect a planned programme for himself that suggests itself to a mind-boggled commentator. Some time ago King promised that in the near future Myopian elements wouldn't have to swear allegiance to the British Queen. The Privy Council move was to be the first step and this was to be the second. He hopes for overwhelming approval for a step he may take even before the next elections. He may not put it into words but the predominantly Negroid Myopians will be subtly reminded that Her Majesty is white, and it's time Myopians are headed by someone who looks like them. One can expect that during the process some prominent black person or persons will be invited from abroad who will urge praise and support for King's decisive and heroic action. You can bet there won't be any referendum.
Glory
When the Queen goes Myopia will achieve republican status and a President become head of state. It is King's ambition to be the first President of Myopia. If he wins the next elections this will cap a season of glory for him: as Prime Minister crossing the 2000-2001 decade, century and millennium divides, then to become Myopia's first President. Imagine his being addressed as President King!
Clearly the next election day could turn out to be the most momentous day in the history of Myopia to date. Will the Myopians consider King to be an appropriate person to be their first head of state, given his record of unacceptable performance, quantity-wise and quality-wise up to that day? If they do, will they prove to be merely Myopic after all and embark on a Youtopyan course continuation of voyage into the void? Your mind-boggled commentator can only say that even given the state of Jamaica today someone else would be very preferable, and such can be found.
Chester Burgess is Hono-rary Director of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.
