Antonnette Haughton Iron Lady of talk turns politician

Petulia Clarke, Staff Reporter

Antonnette Haughton-Cárdenas passionately speaks on the April 1999 Gas Riots during the interview at her home. - Carlington Wilmot

SHE'S BANKING on her "years of human experience and concern". She's depending on "the judgement of God and time", and she's hopeful that the "powerful Jamaican spirit", once unleashed will renew Jamaica.

And her hands are clean. Antonnette Haughton-Cárdenas understands that politics doesn't have to taint and the only purpose of leadership is to serve.

The woman, the lawyer, the mother and the sage is ready to transmit to Jamaicans that "the country is not lost and can find its way again." And she's putting her all into it.

THE BEGINNING

Antonnette Haughton-Cárdenas' passion started years ago. It climaxed after the April 1999 gas riots. "We were obviously on the trend to burn the country down", she explained. "I sat up and realised that I had to do something. If dispossession and poverty continues, we all will be hurt. We need to galvanise on the spirit of volunteerism and see that many problems can be defeated by unity."

Most recently, her passion metamorphosed into the foundation of the United People's Party(UPP). With contributions from people like general secretary Horace Matthews, President of the St Andrew division of the United Negro Improvement Association(UNIA) in Jamaica and vice president Betty Ann Blaine of the Youth Opportunities Unlimited(YOU), the party is pulling from second to third gear and is inviting conscientious members. Founded "on the deep belief in the tremendous history and great potential of Jamaica and in the unwavering faith in the goodness, decency and hard working talents of the majority of Jamaicans", President Haughton-Cárdenas' baby has to prove itself.

And she's not worried.

"We are realistic, we believe that Jamaicans are great and have a tremendous ability for unity," she said in an interview last Monday at her Shortwood Drive, St Andrew home.

"There's the potential for a common goal, I have absolute faith in this."

LEADERSHIP INEVITABLE

It seemed that the 'country girl' from Islington St. Mary always had it in her. Leadership was inevitable for Antonnette. She is the only daughter of four children for retired farmer Kenneth Haughton and Mistelle Scott-Haughton. Her father was a well-known activist during Jamaica's struggle for independence during British rule and her mother, a retired school principal and dramatist now runs a home school at Antonnette's home.

School added a finishing touch. After graduating from Martin All Age, she moved on to St Hugh's and Excelsior High, then to the University of the West Indies, Mona, for a Bachelors of Science degree in political science. She was awarded two post graduate scholarships and took one to study law at the Norman Manley Law School. During legal studies in Barbados she met her current husband Cuban Professor and Businessman Osvaldo Cardenas. They married in 1994.

After university, Antonnette worked as a legal officer with the Ministry of Social Security and then launched into private practice. She established Haughton and Associates in 1998. A practising attorney for the past 22 years, she is currently senior council in the law firm Haughton and Associates and until recently, was host of RJR's top talk show Hotline. She has co-hosted TVJ's Man and Woman Story,

serves as chairman of the Haile Selaassie Comprehensive High School, is a board member of the Women's Media Watch and a founding member of the lobby group Women Working for Transformation. She also found time to represent women on the former Commission examining the Jamaican constitution and is a member of the national board of the Jamaica 4H club.

STRONG FAMILY TIES

Along with her 10-year-old son Cheikh and stepson, she has a house full of children who she unofficially mothers. These include a blind cousin and an extended family of her parents, friends' children and several nieces and nephews. Six small shitzu and mixed breed dogs complete the picture.

"I don't think about my image," she said as she balanced her young niece Misty on her perfectly pressed blue jeans. "I just am. Essentially you are just who you are and have to do what you have to do."

And for 46 years she has been doing just that.

IS SHE READY?

Antonnette is driven by the wholesome and influential messages of national hero, Norman Manley and his son Michael and also their vision for Jamaica. She loves to read. Her favourites range from politics to philosophy and romance. She also enjoys dancing, movies and writing poetry. She enjoys watching BBC World and CNN.

So is she ready for Jamaican politics? As the newest in a series of tried and failed political parties, the UPP has its share of doubters and comparison drawers. This especially with the latest tested National Democratic Movement.

"Comparisons are odious and take us nowhere," Antonnette shrugged. "We're building the party from inside, it's all about working hard, about the perception of the people. We hope that how we see ourselves and the vision for Jamaica is something that most Jamaicans will buy into. Leadership and government should seek to create win-win situations. We want to create as much win-win as possible, we want to be more responsible for the democratic process and have persons know that they are responsible for their choices."

And everyone is invited to join the Party.

"All who are patriotic and want to see the country unite, can come. We are a work in progress and are open to anybody who wants to join us," she said.

Confirmed members currently include a "number of ordinary Jamaicans from all walks of life", who share common concerns.

"We're going to grow, we all have concerns, for example everyone is concerned about national security and education," Antonnette said.

"These should be the concerns of everybody, so that all our ideas can contend freely. There are some things that everybody needs, there's so much more that binds us than separates us."

HER FAITH

Garrisons aside, support for her should be garnered from those she has touched through her talk shows and her practice, plus the rest of Jamaicans who still believe in choices.

"Most of Jamaica is rural. We need to strengthen our political culture, garrison communities do not determine whom runs the country," she said. And how will she approach the task? Much like the way this staunch Anglican approaches other aspects of her life.

"We have a prayer chain. We will be praying without ceasing. We will be putting back the spirit of goodness that has been submerged beneath a mountain of loud ugly people. God doesn't tell me that there's anything that is impossible. Judgement is of God and time, comparison is erroneous."

She added: "Everyday you get up and you pray to God to keep you straight, it's a lot about who you are and what your concerns are, with His help and guidance you can stay focused."

Success for Antonnette lies in being able to prove that she can make even the smallest change.

"If everyone understands that he is entitled to his own opinion, if we can bring this along to national life, this would be success," she said, "We might indeed surprise everyone, maybe even ourselves."

Back to Flair