D.K. DuncanTHE PAUL Burke-led 'Campaign for Transformation' has the potential to kick-start a process of renewal in the People's National Party (PNP). It also has within its stated aims the larger purpose of accelerating a national renewal of the political process. At the 'official launch' of the campaign on Sunday, February 29, Chairman Burke emphasised a main task of the National Committee. This task, identified as the first of 15 campaign issues, is the continuation of 'the process of detribalising the Jamaican political culture'.
The invitation document states its commitment to 'efforts at not just continuing, but intensifying the disintegration of political tribalism' a commitment which it hopes will be "supported at all sources, regardless of where it emanates, from any political party or from other areas of civil society".
The presentation by the former Chairman of the PNP's Region 111 was forceful, insightful and unequivocal. The last time that a similar public position was taken by an active politician was in 1995 by Bruce Golding at the launch of the National Democratic Movement (NDM). On this occasion, however, Paul Burke was speaking to over 300 PNP supporters, sympathisers and others.
NATURAL ALLIES
Speaking without the benefit of a Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) Burke spoke courageously to an audience which could be classified as his natural allies. Risking their support for his postponed leadership campaign, Paul Burke deserves the support of all those inside and outside of the two major parties in the effort to 'intensify the disintegration of political tribalism'.
The National Committee of the 'Campaign for Transformation 2004' of the PNP pledged at the launch to discuss and debate these issues between now and the PNP's annual conference in September. It hopes to bring the opinions of genuine party delegates to bear on the decision-aking process of the party at that conference.
It should be of more than passing interest to civil society not only to observe but to actively monitor and influence party delegates to support those of the 15 main campaign issues which can lay the basis for a healthier political culture. At the very minimum, any political party which can open up itself to debate, dialogue and discussion must be doing something right.
Many of the issues raised appear to be internal. However, on closer scrutiny, they have implications and consequences for the wider society. For instance, the second issue enumerated is the "building of real and functioning party groups, with a community outreach agenda and capacity."
Paul Burke, in his presentation, presented some alarming statistics on the potential for paper or bogus groups. It is these groups which will select the delegates which in a year or two will determine who the next President of the party will be. This person traditionally becomes the Prime Minister. The public needs to show an interest in this development.
This issue of genuine groups and therefore genuine delegates also is linked to the campaign call for criteria for candidates eligibility and the democratic selection of candidates. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is at the moment in deep division as to how this process is to be managed. Any opening given by any party for the public to participate in this determination should be made use of. It is these candidates who usually influence the election of party delegates who vote for the party leader.
OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES
Although "the Campaign" raises the issue of term limits for internal party positions only, the implications for and possible precedence for positions in Government are obvious. The call for affirmative gender action although not new is impatient of debate. The present system is woefully skewed against a significant number of female candidates being selected in winnable seats.
In a climate where political organisation is very difficult, the campaign raises the issue of the "building of genuine and democratic community organisations and for community democracy and empowerment". Apart from the intrinsic worth, this also represents a paradigm which can only help to detribalise many of our communities.
Across the 15 issues raised, transparency, accountability and sanctions are common threads. If this 'Campaign for Transformation' succeeds in only raising these issues in a consistent and structured way, the political process would have been well served. It will be interesting to observe the mood of the delegates at the PNP's 66th Annual Conference in September, 2004.
One Love, One Heart.
A dental surgeon, Dr. D.K. Duncan is a former General Secretary and Cabinet Minister in the PNP Administration of the 1970's.
