Beverley Anderson-Manley
JAMAICA - THE most beautiful place in the world ... but Jamaica - one of the most beautiful places in the world is caught in a trap. The high levels of murder, reprisal killings and mayhem that are currently taking place here is reminiscent of CIA involvement in Third World countries during the Cold War. But this time around, the causes are different. It is now well documented, for example, that narco-trafficking plays a part. The nexus between tribal politics and criminality has also been laid bare. And this is where the trap is most evident. How do politicians involved now or in the past break this link with criminal dons? Can this problem be solved at the same level at which it was created - I think not.
Some type of truth and reconciliation mechanism is necessary now. It cannot be beyond us as a country to establish some type of truth and reconciliation apparatus that provides a safe place for people to tell the truth about a civil war that occurred here in Jamaica in the 1970s. Many of the criminal elements have gained their independence from the politicians but the links remain. We have to think through the truth commission carefully to ensure that it meets our specific needs. Failure to do so could result in even more chaos than when we began.
Perhaps the best known of truth and reconciliation commissions is that of South Africa but, since then, others have been created in different regions of the world. Truth is the road to reconciliation. The truth commission in South Africa is based on the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995. We can use these truth commissions as examples for creating our own indigenous commission. Our inability to deal with this type of mechanism is stopping us from being all that we can be. Too much stuff is in the way.
LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
This time of leadership transition in both political parties can be used as an opportunity to take some reports off the shelf. The Task Force on Crime and the Tribalism Reports come to mind immediately. In looking anew at these reports, perhaps we can use them as the gateway to going even deeper in a process that could lead to a truth commission.
So the timing is perfect. There is a new Leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party and four candidates contending for leadership of the People's National Party. Let us use this time of leadership transition to offer the women, men and children of Jamaica something different. At a minimum, let us begin again the conversation to rid our country of these links between politicians and criminals, between the private sector and criminals and between civil society and criminals. Whether we are able to deal with these issues in a decisive way or not - the costs are too much to bear the way things are.
GARRISON CONSTITUENCIES BENEFIT
It is also important to bear in mind that it is not just the garrison constituencies that benefit from these connections. When other constituencies need help of a particular kind, they turn to these garrison constituencies. Hence, there are high levels of collusion that take place in order to perpetuate this 'One Order'. We do not want to return to cold war type newspaper headlines like 'Paradise lost' and 'Jamaica's ill wind'. So, let us wake up as a country and recognise that these issues will not go away by themselves. We, as citizens will have to make powerful interventions if this situation is to change.
LET US DO IT
If we cannot do it for ourselves, let us do it for the children; let us do it for those yet unborn. Let us intervene so that the price they have to pay is lessened. Let the debates begin in all our organisations - beginning with cvil society. Let us spread this energy throughout all our organisations in Jamaica and in the Jamaican diaspora. Let the chips fall where they may. The women, men and children of this country deserve nothing less.
Beverley Anderson-Manley is a political scientist, gender specialist, transformation practitioner and communications consultant.
