The swing of politics

Stephen Vasciannie

IN THE course of last week, Jamaican politics was in full swing. In broad outline, though, it was 'politricks' as usual. The main protagonists continue to be either hostile or hypocritical, while the people, the supposed beneficiaries of political activity continue to suffer, through violence, neglect, and State incompetence.

In the meantime, the bit players, particularly the young ones, give us no hope; for some of them seem to be even less dedicated to the concept of 'Jamaica' than their elders.

Start with the violence in West Kingston. On the one hand, the Jamaica Labour Party maintains that the latest outbreak (which at one stage contributed heavily to over 43 deaths in 10 days) is stimulated by activists and gunmen aligned with the People's National Party. On the other, the People's National Party takes the view that the violence is part of inter-gang rivalry, and general criminality. In this dispute about causation, the National Democratic Movement plays no role, and should wish to play none.

But as between the protagonists, whom should we believe? From afar, the so-called uncommitted Jamaican may well be inclined to say "a pox on all your houses", and carry on with daily life. This, however, would be short-sighted in the extreme: if, as the JLP argues, the violence in West Kingston is part of a general plan to continue the demonisation of Edward Seaga, then well-thinking Jamaicans should wish to know what manner of evil is upon the country.

Of course, Seaga's activities from the past - and, in particular, the Cold War battles with Manley in the late 1970s and in 1980 - create the foundation for current suggestions that he is being antagonistic and hostile at a time when conciliation and discourse may help calm the violent ocean. But, in fairness, his position on the latest round of violence in West Kingston is far more credible than that offered by the PNP. This is so for at least three reasons.

In the first place, the unrest in West Kingston was confidently, and correctly predicted by persons who themselves are not in a position to influence who pulls which trigger. Have we not all heard Wilmot Perkins indicating that when elections are in the air West Kingston becomes the scene of alleged illegal activity?

The predictions of Perkins and others are not constructed on any special knowledge; rather, they are built on history (at least with respect to the last two General Elections), and the fact that the predictions have come through must certainly carry significant weight in our analysis of the situation.

Secondly, Seaga would really need to have his head examined if he had taken steps to prompt violence in West Kingston at this time. Coming from the St. Ann by-election victory, and with the JLP lead in the opinion polls acknowledged even by the PNP, it would be perfectly nonsensical for him to engender a situation which could undermine the JLP throughout the country. The theory that West Kingston violence is prompted by persons antagonistic to Seaga, or by persons who wish to have him tied down in that community during the period of electioneering has more credibility than the alternative explanations offered to date.

Thirdly, the JLP's interpretation of the violence in West Kingston is given further credibility by the patent hypocrisy taken by the PNP Youth Organisation on this subject. In summary, the PNPYO has advanced two points, namely, (a) that the youth arms of both the PNP and the JLP should come together to address the question of violence; and (b) that Seaga should leave the political scene because he is one source of violence, or at least violent rhetoric, at a time when peace and harmony should prevail.

This is clearly hypocritical because, the PNPYO must know that the JLP youth organisations do not accept point (b) above. Presumably, the PNPYO hopes that the JLP youth arms will reject the invitation to address the question of violence, and then, ergo, the PNPYO will argue that this is further evidence that the JLP alone is the party of violence. We have grown past this in our political analysis; but, the fact that such silliness has been advanced suggests to me that the PNPYO has been forced to play any card it can find.

The current round of electioneering has also brought forth a strong statement by the Prime Minister concerning his heterosexuality. In some senses, though, the fact that the PM had to make this statement is again testimony to the low level of thought and analysis that goes into our politics. The PNP, on the one hand, has encouraged the idea that Seaga cannot lead because if he steps into the crowd he is readily distinguishable on grounds of race, while the JLP, on the other, has put forward the 'Chi-chi, boom, bye, bye' theory.

The sad thing is that both positions have come from the leaders of the respective parties, in their political pronouncements: an officially sanctioned smear campaign of across the political divide. Neither Patterson nor Seaga come out creditably from the resulting state of affairs; but, at least, Patterson's frankness on heterosexuality, and Seaga's firmness on the violence question, suggest that the underlying bitterness inherent in our political process is being brought to the fore.

And, on the matter of bringing things to the fore, my instincts tell me that at least one recent resignation from the political process has not been characterised by transparency. Here we are, three months from the General Election (if Seaga is correct), victory is in sight for the JLP (if Seaga, again, is correct) and yet, in these circumstances, David Panton - a man making progress - suddenly resigns. The business defence has been advanced, but, truth to tell, it is not entirely convincing.

Finally, while Hyacinth Bennett is presumably conducting her audit concerning the National Democratic Movement, the rumours about a possible 'fourth' party, with strong media connections, continue to grow. In the present climate, another political party can do little harm, and if their message can reach the broad majority of the people, then they may have cause for optimism. This, however, would require a Herculean effort because right now, bwoy, de people tired of politricks bad bad bad.

Stephen Vasciannie, an attorney-at-law, teaches at the University of the West Indies.

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