Delroy Chuck
SENATOR BURCHELL Whiteman, minister of information general secretary of the PNP, is obviously unaware that under the Westminster model an early general election is a misnomer. Under our parliamentary system, without a fixed election date, the governor-general can dissolve Parliament and call a general election, on the advice of the prime minister or after a parliamentary vote of no confidence in the government, at anytime, but definitely by 2007.
Senator Whiteman, in a prepared statement, asserted that the ruling Patterson adminis-tration would not be coerced into calling early general elections, and warned the Opposition that the full force of the law would counter unlawful disruptions. What precipitated this reaction? At the pre-Nomination Day rally in Denham Town on Tuesday, March 22, for the West Kingston by-election, MP St. Aubyn Bartlett said: "We want election. We going to march and demand that the PNP give up." MP Karl Samuda declared: "We will be launching one of the most massive campaigns in this country to push them (the government) from power." Absolutely nothing is wrong with these two statements. It is in fact the duty of the Opposition, as an alternative government, and acting in the national interests, to force an incompetent, corrupt and failed administration out of office.
INJUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
I also spoke and urged the gathering that Jamaica needs to be rescued from the continued injustice and human rights abuses, increasing unemployment and underemployment, stultifying illiteracy and poor education output, lack of opportunity for even the educated and skilled, growing economic hardship and desperation. I, too, wanted a general election long before 2007 so the country can be turned around from its present disastrous path and afforded the leadership and management that can return justice, peace, prosperity and hope to the Jamaican landscape. What on earth would be wrong if the JLP march around the country, mobilise the people, and demand the end of the hardship and suffering, the crime and violence, the corruption and chaos, the debilitating fear and depression that afflict virtually every citizen daily.
In the Westminster model, the Opposition has the responsibility to elucidate the ills, challenges and problems of the nation, and demonstrate that the governing party is incapable of responding or delivering good government. To be sure, the country is experiencing the consequences of Dr. Omar Davies' 'run wid it' expenditures of 2002 and his attempts to correct them. The profligate spending spree in 2002 to win the general election sent inflation to 16 per cent in the last fiscal year and, this year, in spite of the predicted nine per cent, will be close to 14 per cent.
Inflation is an inequitable and punitive tax on the poor, unemployed and ordinary wage earners. It erodes the spending power of consumers and inflicts harsh economic pressure on those least able to cushion it. When inflation is close to 30 per cent over two years, and wage earners are held to salary increases of less than five per cent annually, the working class, unemployed and retired are forced to pay for the 2002 fiscal madness. Why, then, should Jamaicans be forced to put up unduly with a government that has played politics with the country's economic well-being?
In the 2005/06 fiscal year, things will get worse, as Dr. Davies seeks to balance the budget. To what end? To 'run wid it' again in the 2006/07 run up to the next general election! Well, the Opposition will bring to the country's attention the shortcomings of this year's budget and, if necessary, urge the country to reject it, especially if it means more of the same suffering, shortages and strangulation of the economy. Last year, the Opposition brought the inadequacy of the fire service to the nation's attention and, I daresay, the loss of life, property, employment and the inconvenience to thousands from fire damage are primarily the government's fault.
SUFFERING AND HOPELESSNESS
When the education and health sectors are starved of needed resources, the suffering and hopelessness of the people will only intensify. When the justice and security ministries are deprived of capital expenditures, the injustice, crime and lawlessness will become even more intolerable. When our roads, bridges and gullies cannot be repaired, there will be untold stress, inconvenience and frustration. When even strong supporters of the government are speaking of Jamaica as a failed state, being on the wrong path, overtaken by crime and violence, and on the verge of anarchy, why shouldn't the Opposition demand a general election, so the people can, as they partly did in 2003, reverse their error of 2002?
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
