Delroy Chuck
AFTER THE Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) delayed but successful annual conference, the party has moved forward to consolidate, unite and prepare to present itself as an attractive political alternative.
On March 6, the party's central executive elected its remaining officers and members of the Standing Committee, which manages the affairs of the party, in an atmosphere of peace, political competitiveness and democratic harmony.
With a full house, and almost 100 per cent attendance, the party conducted its business for more than eight hours in a fitting and commendable manner.
Obviously, the JLP is aware things must improve.
After 16 consecutive years in Opposition, and only eight years of government during the past 33 years, the next two years will define the future of the party. If the party is unable to win government next time, the spectre of a one-party state becomes real.
NOT RELY ON PNP TO LOSE
Still, it will not be easy. The JLP has very few friends in the media, the Church, the commanding heights of the economy, and the leading institutions of the country. The People's National Party (PNP) has supporters in the leadership of virtually every major organisation.
The real challenge of the JLP is to first recognise that it will have to win the next election and not depend on the PNP to lose it.
The PNP will not easily
succumb in spite of how badly it mismanages the country. With its legendary ability to use deceptive public relations to put the right spin on every governmental
failure, the PNP makes even the escalating murder rate a verifiable sign of success.
So, Minister Peter Phillips opines that the increase in murders last year is due to the remarkable success of Operation Kingfish in controlling the drug trade.
Moreover, the PNP has successfully sold to its supporters and sympathisers that it is doing a good job and everything is on track, which is an easy mission to people who have no expectation of what a better Jamaica could be.
CHART A PATH OF HOPE
Quite frankly, it is time we in the JLP stop highlighting the litany of failures of the present government. They are far too many and simply depressing.
It is time we chart a path of hope that can take this nation from a deteriorating, failed state to a vibrant, competitive, First World country.
The nation needs a vision of what it can become. It is that vision in which government plays its role as facilitator to increase the jobs and opportunities, as creator of the investment climate to attract the world's leading business corporations, as provider of an efficient justice system that, quite simply, delivers justice in a trustworthy manner, as good managers of the limited business of government and, ultimately, as primary protector of the constitutional and human rights, freedoms and dignity of the people.
Yes, unless the JLP can sell the vision of a new and better tomorrow, it will remain in the political wilderness.
WALK THE TALK
The JLP candidates need to walk the talk. It is Members of Parliament like Verna Parchment and Shahine Robinson in St. Ann that give political representatives confidence and hope that victory can be attained with perseverance and commitment to purpose instead of big money.
Verna and Shahine are shining examples of how walking every neighbourhood and community can spell political success.
In Verna's case, she had, initially, to overcome political abuse and rejection in a hitherto PNP stronghold before winning the hearts and souls of the residents.
Shahine walked every corner and got thousands to enumerate. Far too many political candidates think they need money to win elections. While money is
essential, its role is overstated.
Actually, our politics could take a giant step forward by avoiding the 'licky-licky' mentality, handouts, vote-buying, and volatile political hype.
WINNING TEAM NEEDED
At the same time, the country wants to see a winning team. The burden on Bruce Golding is to drive a leadership image that overwhelms the facile and imbecilic comments of columnists and detractors and present a united team to win the faith and trust of the people.
The party must in fact reach to higher levels of conduct, comments and communication to neutralise and overcome the embedded
political activists in educational institutions, the church pulpits, the chambers of commerce, the boardrooms of businesses, the bureaucracy of government, the editorial desks of the media, etc. and reach out to the independent minds and undecided voters everywhere. Over the next two years, if it can, the country's future will be bright.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at Delchuck@Hotmail.Com
