Shalmon Scott, Contributor
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (second right), in deep discussion with the four contenders for party president when he retires next year. The contenders are (from left), Omar Davies, Minister of Finance, Dr. Peter Philips, Minister of National Security, Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government and Sports and Dr. Karl Blythe at the party's 67th conference at the National Arena on Saturday, September 10, 2005. - IAN ALLEN STAFF/PHOTOGRAPHER
WITHIN THE context of our national jurisprudence, parliament is supreme. This means a pre-eminence in the making of, amendment to and the repealing of existing laws. It is this pre-eminence of Parliament in our national affairs that has set it apart as an institution demanding respect from the governed and decorum, accountability and transparency from these who are governors.
Indeed, the presumption of progress rests on the principles of equity, inclusiveness, democratic participation and reciprocity. In a word - TRUST. How parliament conducts its business and what it focuses on are of significance to every Jamaican. For while we can afford to ignore a politician wagging his or her tongue in a new round of unfulfilled promises somewhere on the streets of Jamaica, making similar promises from inside the parliament attract more than a cursory response.
SERIOUS BUSINESS EXPECTED
We still expect the business of the 'House' to be very serious and sincere and look down on any one of our political representatives who remains quiet or displays the penchant for consistent political buffoonery from our parliament. For it is in that House that decisions - without our direct participation - can be made to affect our lives in fundamental ways. It is for that reason that political parties in selecting candidates to contest national and local elections exercise due care in offering to the respective constituencies the calibre of persons in modern Jamaica who can represent the party, constituency and hopefully, the national interest in the parliament. Whenever a political party does a poor job in fielding a candidate who the people believe can have a street-side conversation, but who is unable to represent them in parliament, some of the most die-hard supporters may not vote and might even discourage others from voting.
And so, parliamentary politics plays a definitive role in the overall responses among the Jamaican electorate. Sometimes the catalytic role which Parliamentary politics plays on our political choices is somewhat obscured by the appearance of our seeming lack of interest in the political process. We have not been turning out in huge numbers to vote in elections and we appear indifferent certainly not to politics - but to most if not all our politicians. All of this non-voting and demonstrable cynicism of politicians is unfortunately equated with our lack of interest in politics. But is it because of a prior lack of interest why most people do not bother to vote or is it because of deep interest in and a comprehensive understanding of the politics swirling around them why they have come to the conclusion 'no better herring no better barrel?' I urge you to think carefully about that one. For if interest in politics was that lacking the robust participatory talk shows and call-in programmes which are mushrooming would share a sterile existence within the framework of all our national concerns. Not to mention the whittling away of a dynamic print media with its robust public response. The power of the silent majority which really means not speaking through the public media but speaking forcefully anyway, continues to influence strong public opinion inclusive of political choices. This silent majority has been winning the battle for non-voting, apparent political apathy and lack of faith in our politicians.
POLITICIAN'S PERFORMANCE IN PARLIAMENT
Parliament is the principal arena where the greatest political cynics look even occasionally - to justify that cynicism. A politician's performance in parliament will make or break that politicians national image, acceptance, relevance and influence. While a poor pattern of parliamentary performance may not necessarily affect negatively the standing of say a Member of Parliament in his constituency right away, the MPs supporters will soon find dissonance in the fact that hardly anyone outside the constituency and on the national stage thinks highly of their man or woman! The same principle applies to the performance of a leader of a political party in the parliament and in this case I wish to look on the consequence of such a principle on the result of the People's National Party presidential race. Any experienced politician will tell you that a party leader's pursuit of what is generally regarded to be good does not necessarily yield political traction for the party he leads as opposed to that leader's negative actions and utterances which are more certain to cause fall-out and political distractions.
Accordingly, the negative judgement against the politician is harshest, the nature of the wrongs allowing, if such wrongs emerge from inside parliament. Another factor as to how the wrong will be treated depends on which political divide is exercising the judgement.
TWO MAJOR ARENAS
Parliament and the streets are the two major arenas in which political actions are observed and from which judgements are made. Both arenas demand that for any politician to survive, he must have good ratings on both score boards. The PNP aspirants Portia Simpson Miller, Peter Phillips, Omar Davies and Carl Blythe whoever wins the PNP Presidential race in February, immediately has the 2006/2007 budget debate in April to lead and to marshall. There is no escaping that fact. We may just have an opportunity to see intellect and a mastery of economics, debating savvy, political psychology and foreign affairs at work from the New Prime Minister and all who will make presentations.
We will see which of the four contenders for the PNP leadership can singularly hold his or her own against the onslaught of a formidable array of Opposition talents. This is the crucial question with which PNP delegates must wrestle as they are challenged to decide what political drama the outcome of this year's special delegates conference will foreshadow for our parliament. For indeed whichever party and leader come out looking good in the next parliamentary budget debate will influence, most critically this time , the electorate response to the JLP and PNP in the next election.
