Delroy Chuck JAMAICA IS a land in turmoil. Leadership and governance have failed the people, and the country, lacking in purpose and direction, drifts pitifully to nowhere. The average Jamaican despairs and, right now, would be happy to seek a better life elsewhere. Even the few Jamaicans who are doing well, very well, from the misguided monetary policies still find living here a major challenge, and fear the country could erupt into street revolt and violent protests and chaos. The government, after 13 years in office, has not brought peace and justice, yet it seeks to continue for another five years.
No one can deny that under the present administration, things have fallen apart. Crime has simply been out of control with the murder rate rising to such unprecedented levels that, to outsiders, it must appear there is a civil war. The effort of the two major political parties to unite and join in the effort to combat criminality is commendable but the symbolic signing of the report of the National Committee on Crime will come to nought if there is no implementation. In truth, the country is tired of crime reports that have laudable proposals to bring peace, yet enough is not done to see through the recommendations.
The National Task Force on Crime, popularly referred to asThe Wolfe Report, chaired by the present Chief Justice, reported in April 1993, had admirable recommendations but even now most have not been implemented. I fear that under the present administration it is unlikely the Report of the National Committee on Crime will bear much fruit, as the administration talks well but after the talk, nothing happens. What hope can we have for peace and justice when we fail to put in place even the basic machinery to implement agreed policy proposals? Wouldn't it make sense to continue with the National Committee, or some similar composition, to oversee the implementation of the recommendations?
Jamaicans need peace and justice but it cannot come for only one section of the population, it must come for all. We cannot hope to build a good and decent society without unity, peace and justice. There are simply too many divisions, conflicts and injustice and, I believe, the burden to heal the wounds and right the wrongs rests primarily on the shoulders of those who offer themselves for leadership. We are now engaged in a prolonged campaign to contest the 14th General Election since Adult Suffrage, and combatants need to send the right signals that they stand for peace and they will do everything to ensure a peaceful and honest election for which we can all be proud. Political leaders and others in authority have a responsibility to set the tone for a peaceful nation.
Still, for us to maintain peace, there must be justice. Those who control the levers of power, at this time, must use them even-handedly. It cannot be right for the resources of government to be distributed and used for sheer political advantage. It cannot be right for government agencies to engage, even covertly, in the political process and use their influence for political purposes. Until we start to treat our people with dignity, rather than as charitable cases, handing out largesse for votes, exploiting the 'licky licky' mentality of our people, and really start to inspire our people to a decent democracy and good governance, then the chances of sustaining a peaceful nation are quite dim. For the next election, let the scale be evenly balanced and urge the people, every voter, to exercise the right to vote with their heads and hearts, and not with their bellies or for some other irregular material enrichment.
Justice, indeed, is the missing element in much of government relations with the people. In my budget presentation, last week, I emphasised and noted the need for human rights, which seems to be denied daily to the ordinary Jamaican at all levels of governance. Jamaicans from all walks of life deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Human rights and human dignity must stand supreme and be the guiding principles for the security forces and the other agencies of State in dealing with the public.
Justice demands that the young man in the ghetto, the poor and marginalised, even alleged wrongdoers are afforded proper treatment and due process of law. There are sections of the society that cheer whenever it is alleged that gunmen are killed in a shoot-out.
Yet, when persons are executed in strange, ambivalent and questionable circumstances, the situation is a cause for concern, a clear and present danger to every citizen, and a threat to every police officer on duty. When a proper inquiry is not done, and the truth does not emerge, justice is not served and peace cannot follow. Today, it is the forgotten young man in the ghetto; tomorrow it could be you or me. Unless something is done to respect human rights and human dignity, every time, everywhere, it won't be long before the brazen and wayward members of the security forces eliminate persons, of whatever status in life, for political or other reasons.
Human rights organisations have come under constant pressure for simply doing what is right, and seeking to have justice done. I do not believe human rights activists have any ulterior motives, such as to undermine the integrity of the police force or to support wrongdoers. They engage in their campaign against state terror and police excesses out of their genuine concern for the security and stability of a decent and peaceful society. It is sheer half-wittedness for persons to condemn them and seek to deny their right to seek justice. Indeed, anyone who fails to respect and promote human rights and human dignity cannot be concerned with good governance.
To be sure, Jamaica is really on the wrong path and needs to find a way forward. The government needs to admit that things have to change or the people need to change the government. When the country is devoid of jobs and opportunities, safety and security, production and investment, it is downright dishonest to speak of solid achievements and progress. Many of our young people between the ages of 16 and 26, the most vulnerable period for young men to commit crime, have never had a steady job. In truth, in our search for a peaceful and just society, we need to find useful occupations for the throngs of idle hands and the hundred of thousands of jobless Jamaicans.
When 'nutten naw gwan' for half the population and more, peace and stability cannot be maintained. Jobs, opportunities and useful occupations are urgently needed and cannot come from a government that depends on loans, grants and remittances to survive. Jamaica needs peace and justice, but it needs leadership and governance that understand and can make economic investment and wealth creation the top priorities for the way forward.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at delchuck@hotmail.com.
