Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
WITH FATHER time getting set to unseat members of the old political guard, a new generation of politicians are gearing up to take their place.
The country's two main political parties - the governing People's National Party (PNP) and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) - boast of having a rich blend of youth and experience in their camps. Political scientists call the emerging bunch second-tier leaders.
The JLP, for example, points to the likes of Andrew Holness, Christopher Tufton, and deputy leader James Robertson as members of its greening bunch- all in the forty or under age group.
Senator Kern Spencer, at 34 is, the youngest in the PNP's batch of young selectees under 40. The other budding figures are Jermaine Martin, Doreen Forbes, Oswest Senior Smith and Dr. Christopher Munroe.
RESPONSIBILITY
Smith, an attorney-at-law, has been entrusted with the responsibility of bringing the PNP victory against the JLP's Shahine Robinson, who defeated the PNP's Carol Jackson on two consecutive occasions in North East St. Ann. Dr. Munroe has been thrown into the fire against Delroy Chuck in the North East St. Andrew constituency.
In the JLP's camp, Mr. Tufton is the lone uncapped member of the young trio. Mr. Holness had rewritten history in 1997 after being elected to Parliament at age 25, the youngest person to accomplish the feat, while Mr. Robertson won the West St. Thomas seat in 2002 at age 33.
Mr. Tufton, who is contesting the South West St. Elizabeth seat, says he is offering himself out of a sense of love and devotion to fellow Jamaicans and his country.
But why is there not a greater influx into representational politics of young persons who share a vision of national development?
Junior Rose, a former president of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Guild of Students, says he has political aspirations but has to put them on hold. He observes that many more youngsters have great political interest but the political old guard and a perception that politicians are crooked, are factors that keep out young persons.
Responding to the argument that the presence of older persons in politics is keeping young persons out, Senator Anthony Johnson of the JLP says this is not necessarily so.
"Anybody who is in front-line leadership is not only subjected to challenge but is challenged by the public," Senator Johnson explains. "If it is perceived that you are not effective by the public whom you are serving, then you will be removed."
Senator Johnson adds that many young people get involved in active politics but are rarely seen at the constituency level because of finances.
Constituency politics, he says, is five times more expensive than parochial politics, so a lot of people cannot afford contesting at the national level.
"You cannot go into politics at the national level broke. You have to put up money to ensure that you can win a seat and it is an expensive process. Young people who have just graduated can't afford it," notes the former JLP Member of Parliament.
Mr. Tufton considers the cost of power a bad thing for democracy.
"What it means is that you might not always get the best persons offering themselves," he adds.
