Ken Jones, Guest Columnist
THE PAPERS have been full of fulsome praises for the popular and likeable Minister of Local Government. A cheering editorial referred to her action in Parliament as "...a shining example..." and her manner of speaking about a collapsing fire service as "refreshing candour".
One columnist, joining in the applause, remarked that the Minister "...got a standing ovation from the Opposition benches and no doubt the admiration of the rest of the country." A former head of the National Democratic Movement expressed approval because the Minister "...refused to conceal her disappointment and disgust with the shortfall of the budget for the fire services..." And underlining it all was the television display of Opposition MPs banging their desks and voicing loud support for her. Those who weren't clapping their hands were eating out of hers.
I looked at all of the posturing and promenading, listened to the hymns of praise, the lyrics and the flowery words; and I wondered what it was all about. True, that under close questioning the Minister had spoken candidly about the Cabinet's failure to provide sufficient money to keep the fire services viable. But when asked to vote on a motion expressing concern about this most serious situation, she replied, "I will not vote." That made her Cabinet comrades think that she had turned against them, and they were livid. The Opposition was ecstatic. For me it was too little and too late, unless it is going to result in the Government backing off and finding the necessary funds.
RESIGNED
If the Minister of Local Government knows that money is available and that the Government is unwilling to fund the fire services, she should have done much more than declining to vote. She should have slapped her colleagues in no uncertain terms, resigned from the Cabinet and then explain it all to the public. She might also tell why she remained silent all these years when the country was being crippled by corruption, political mismanagement and pork-barrelling. It seems to me, she had a marvellous opportunity to do a great service to the people, but she didn't even vote.
From most accounts, the Minister is a nice person who many regard as good material for the role of Prime Minister. So charming is she that even some of her political opponents tend to overlook the charge that she has achieved very little of importance for her own constituency. Some, less charitable, list her most lasting achievement as having her name attached to the road intersection once known as Three Miles. Be that as it may, she has been for the past 14 years Minister of Sports, of Labour, of Tourism, and now Local Government and Community Development. She is an insider having the backing of tens of thousands; and until I see a catalogue of successes warranting her endorsement in this particular matter, I will not vote; and I'll also hold the applause.
The deplorable state of the fire-fighting machinery in Jamaica didn't happen overnight. It has been steadily falling to pieces over the past 14 years, as any conscious and honest observer can testify.
During all that time the Minister now responsible for this particular subject has been a senior member of the Cabinet, which is collectively responsible for directing public affairs at the highest level. Did she not know that disaster was imminent? Warnings from the wings were loud and clear, but she did not raise her voice nor sound the siren of alarm. And even now when she finds the twinge of conscience too bothersome to bear, she seems content merely to withhold her vote; ready to complain about the predicament but unwilling or unable to identify the cause.
This indicates once again that Jamaica has become a country overly tolerant of half measures and even mediocrity, especially in public affairs, where neither personal involvement nor responsibility is required. Too many of our people fail to demand excellence and instead provide crutches for any lame excuse.
MORE EXPENDITURE
In the same fire debate the Minister of National Security, one of those who have failed to husband our resources and properly handle our finances, chided the complaining Minister and said: "...there is a need for more expenditure and we are aware of the need for more resources for essential services, not only the fire services. There is need for more re-sources in health, in education and others." This is a clear and ominous declaration that we are in for terrible times. Yet we have accepted it without question, yawned and gone off to carnival and cricket.
And now comes the Minister of Local Government giving us more style than substance, and we are prepared to run with it. At sometime later we may wake up to the facts of life and note that tomorrow she'll still be keeping company and doing business with the bunglers who caused our fire services to be in shambles. She'll still be in the party of comrades closing ranks to make lame excuses for their failures with the fire service, the Police Force, the hospitals, the schools and every other aspect of our lives. She notes the lack of funds but remains quiet about the billions of dollars of public funds frittered away on corrupt contracts and useless consultancies. These are some of the reasons why we cannot afford a decent fire service. The Executive has failed us badly and she has been and continues to be a part of it. I would even wager that were an election to be called tomorrow she would vigorously defend the Government and urge us to return them to office. So what is the cheering about?
Ken Jones is General Secretary of the Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs.
