Letter of the Day - Wanted: a new political order THE EDITOR, Sir: THERE IS talk that violence in Tivoli enhances the PNP's upcoming election bid. But how can this be? There is nothing inherent in violent confrontation that paints one party as being necessarily better than another. In fact, one may argue that in Jamaica today such would reflect badly on an administration that has not succeeded in stemming violence. Similarly, talk that violence in Tivoli has been predicted for some months now does not necessarily point to the government as being responsible. Again, it could be argued that in light of such a prediction, coldly calculating persons could have perpetrated violence to make the government look bad and hence gain political mileage. What is truly sad, however, is that after almost 40 years of Independence our political order cannot shake the perception that poor people are treated as expendable in the name of political gain. The politics of scarce benefits and spoils as some aptly call it, is not bent on the progress of our nation but on seeking and gaining political ascendancy. Police brutality, political tribalism and partisan granting of contracts (to name a few) are then the order of the day, as long as they are perceived to gain and maintain the desired political end. Which one of the two major political parties can truly claim innocence of such charges? The political order in Jamaica is rotten to the core. Sadly, it is useless to say that the politicians are the ones responsible. Like unthinking persons we continue to support a system based on blind loyalty or selfish interest. There is no thought of demanding better from our politicians, who know that if they just let off in the short term our loyalty will be bought for much longer periods. We need a new political order, but the time has come for us to refuse to support politicians who perpetrate corruption of any sort in the name of political expedience. I am, etc., DAVID PEARSON davynth@cwjamaica.com c/o Jamaica Theological Seminary Via Go-Jamaica
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