Heather Robinson, Contributor
JAMAICA IN 2005 has many interesting concepts that are up for discussion. Among them at this time is the concept of representation. Is this a right or a privilege?
Last week, there was the nomination of four candidates for the by-election in Western Kingston. The Daily Observer reported on Monday 'Membership concerns at Jamaicans for Justice AGM'.
The process of electing representatives to the House of Parliament is one that is understood by most Jamaicans, but how many Jamaicans would have had prior knowledge that the human rights group, Jamaicans for Justice, had its annual general meeting attended by a "little over 70 members".
Hundreds of party supporters from both the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party turned out to witness the nomination of Bruce Golding and Bunny Witter last Wednesday.
Nominations represent the process by which candidates indicate to the constituency that they have an interest in becoming their elected representative at Gordon House.
After nominations are closed, the ballots are prepared with the names of the candidates, printed in alphabetical order with their occupation and the symbol that represents their particular political party.
CHANGES IN PERSONAL LIFE
Making that decision to place one's name on a ballot paper is not a particularly easy one and once that has been done the candidate will find that his personal life will begin to change immediately.
These changes range from tremendous personal financial sacrifice to the near abandonment of family as one begins to nurture and develop a 'political family'.
Persons who decide to make this bold step of offering themselves are among the most courageous Jamaican people.
They fall in the category of persons who would rather try and do something to change our political system and hopefully make Jamaica a better place.
These are not persons who are content to constantly criticise the 60 elected persons in Parliament, but would rather put their money where their talk has been.
Commendation must be given to those among the 60 who are genuine representatives of the decent electors of each constituency.
Condemnation must equally be placed on those who have bred and protected the new breed of criminals who murder and terrorise us daily. There is no point in denying paternity to the people of Jamaica when those whom you represent know very well at what time and place conception took place.
For the last five years, the local human rights group, Jamaicans for Justice, has managed to develop a certain level of credibility among some sections of the Jamaican people.
They have travelled abroad to make representation on behalf of alleged victims of state abuse and locally have provided legal advice and support as well as independent pathologists for families.
And they have been to Parliament to present their point of view at committee meetings as well as other meetings organised and sponsored by the elected government.
WHOSE MANDATE?
The executive director of the JFJ said they "are not a mass membership organisation - never have been and never will be", and chairperson Susan Goffe pointed out that they have 400 members with only about 70 being paid up members. So the AGM of the JFJ had a 17 per cent turnout.
Who therefore is the JFJ really representing? And can 70 persons claim to have the right to make demands on a government and people? Who has given the JFJ a mandate to act and on whose behalf?
Should we continue to listen to them when they speak , and perhaps at some time in the future one among their membership will take that all important step and place their name on a ballot paper so that they can legally occupy a seat once the Speaker takes his seat in Parliament.
JFJ must be given full marks for persistence, however. And they ought to be congratulated for all the financial assistance they have been able to receive from overseas donors.
While we contemplate their right to represent those whom they say are victims of state abuse, it would do us all well to visualise the 70 members sitting in Stephanie Hall.
And of course how could we not remember the sea of green and orange along Spanish Town Road last Wednesday.
Who among us have earned the right to call themselves representatives? Is this what privilege is all about?
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
