THE EDITOR, Sir:
CONGRATULATIONS TO the Jamaican people who have successfully and creatively resolved the seemingly irreconcilable political contradiction posed by the recent election choices.
The Jamaican people faced a severe psychological conundrum - the proverbial rock and a hard place - having to choose between the perceptions of a corrupt, arrogant and inefficient People's National Party and a fractious, egocentric Jamaica Labour Party led by a driven man.
Using double-bind theory as the basis of this analysis, over 600,000 Jamaicans responded using the catatonic defence, namely withdrawal from adult suffrage - the right to vote won by the decades of struggle of the Jamaican people. This paralysis that is often seen in mentally-ill people in the face of the seemingly irreconcilable double bind, excluded almost one-third of the Jamaican electorate from the decision that would irrevocably dictate their future. The remaining two-thirds of the Jamaican electorate resolved the conundrum by a plebiscite decision of historic proportions, which itself is now history.
Make no mistake, the resolution of this psychological double bind demands the end of tribal politics in this country and dictates a reunification process without which this country cannot develop satisfactorily. The burgeoning debate about this issue in the press and in the society at all levels at this time is an indication of this mandate.
Make no mistake, this process of unification has to return to the root of the disunity in order for the healing to take place.
Lest we forget, tribal politics in our recent period of history began with the expulsion of "the Four Hs" (the political left) from the national liberation movement - the People's National Party of 1938 - and the impulsive formation of the Jamaica Labour Party by Alexander Bustamante in 1943. Lest we forget, Alexander Bustamante was a foundation member of the People's National Party in 1938. Nor must we forget the role of the British Government and Sir Arthur Richards in the genesis of this 'divide and rule' prescription that has helped to drive our nation into this present state of atavistic tribal politics.
The psychological sequel of this extreme tribal self- destructive process is nothing short of collective suicide. By some of our brothers and sisters killing one another we are destroying our collective self. The healing process will not be easy, and will demand rigorous confrontation of the schism by men and women of integrity and steely resolve. Resolution of the toxic pollutants at the head of the historical stream is the sine qua non for the therapeutic detoxification of political tribalism in the river of the body politic at the present.
I am, etc.,
FREDRICK W. HICKLING
Professor
Dept. of Community Health and Psychiatry
University of the West Indies
Mona
fhicklng@uwimona.edu.jm
Via Go-Jamaica
