Delroy Chuck
" Democracy is the worst form of government," declared the great British statesman Winston Churchill, "save and except for the others." If we want to enjoy the benefits and strengths of democracy, we must endure its faults. Democracy promotes the conflict of ideas, free speech and public disagreements. From the battle, competition and freedom of opinions, the best emerges. Strong and loud criticisms are a part of our democracy and, indeed, are protected by our constitution.
The president of the PNP, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, and its present General Secretary, Danny Buchanan, should be ashamed for complaining so childishly about a few 'labourites' heckling the PNP caravan in Christiana, Manchester. In fact, the PM has made it known that when she is coming through the people must 'stay clear', unless they are prepared to love, hug and kiss her. Poor PM, she cannot stand criticism; she only wants praise and admiration. She complains that the JLP is organising to harass and heckle her, which is totally untrue and abject nonsense.
Green shirt hecklers
Actually, this present PM complains too much. During the PNP annual conference, she complained that the JLP campaigned too near to the Arena, when the campaign was in Harbour View. In Port Maria, she complained about five to eight green-shirted hecklers who were not even in her view and caused absolutely no disturbance. She complains that the media is not friendly and, thus, has stopped reading the newspapers, listening to the news or watching television. Well, PM Portia, if you continue like this, your short tenure in office will be more characterised by your constant bickering and frequent complaints, than by any actual achievement. It is time, PM, you learn and accept the need for political tolerance - it is an essential element in our democracy.
Interestingly, political bantering is part and parcel of democracy. When a government has fallen out of favour, heckling and criticisms can be expected and no one has to organise them. In our highly competitive and partisan politics, we must expect to see our political opponents in their favourite colours along the campaign trail. From the outset, on the JLP islandwide campaign in July, PNP supporters in orange shirts, some waving orange flags and most shouting 'power' heckled Bruce Golding and his JLP team. In subsequent constituency tours, small groups of PNP supporters gave us the clenched fists as we passed by, and we returned the V-sign and shouted 'shower'. Indeed, when we met at various whistlestops, the atmosphere between comrades and labourites was one of carnival and friendly bantering instead of hostility and aggression.
I am really disappointed with the political intolerance of the Prime Minister who must learn to accommodate the praise of her supporters and the censure of her detractors. Sadly, in her constituency, she has never had to deal with hecklers and detractors and seems unable to tolerate them elsewhere. Admittedly, there should be a level of decorum and decency in our politics, and no one should openly and disgracefully abuse our political leaders. Yes, a line must be drawn, but it cannot be a total separation of the partisan supporters. Our politics would be boring and fanatical if we cannot engage in open, public bantering and greet and disagree with one another on the campaign trail. Quite frankly, we take our politics too seriously, which is one of the great failings of the professional politicians to whom power is everything.
Political Intolerance
If we are to eschew our tribalised politics, we need to encourage political opposition in every nook and cranny of our small island. No longer must politics be the haven for the fanatical and violent; it should be the arena for competing ideas, contending personalities and opposing factions. We must become respectful and tolerant of others' views, dissent and opposition - democracy deserves nothing less.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted at delchuck@hotmail.com.
