Garth Rattray

Cable television, information and communication technology, easy international travel, globalisation and decades of feeling used and ignored by the powers-that-be have all contributed to the growing political expectations of our people. Many Jamaicans want a higher level of politicking from their party candidates and 'leaders'. Empty promises, bad-mouthing and well-timed announcements of improved benefits (mistakenly construed by many as 'gifts') no longer garner votes like they once did in time past.

In her commendable budget contribution, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller made several attempts at unification. She promoted the benefits of wholesome family life and values. She did the mandatory extolling of her party's achievements before announcing that the fees for government hospitals and health facilities will be abolished for 'children and minors' under 18 years of age. She also declared that the National Housing Trust (NHT) benefits will be increased while the mortgage rates are to be decreased. No doubt, many will benefit from these initiatives but the fact that these 'gifts' (financed by our own tax dollars) come at such a crucial juncture (campaign time, right before the general election) makes them highly suspect.

Genuine efforts

Perhaps these new benefits are genuine efforts meant to alleviate some of the unbearable financial burdens that most Jamaicans face every day. However, people are convinced that the abolishment of health fees for minors and the improved NHT benefits are part of the usual political ploys designed to harvest votes from a disgruntled nation drowning in international debt, mired in poverty and plagued by crime. Someone even complained to me that the Government should have extended free public medical service to the elderly because (of the two), the children need it less. I explained that this is perhaps the very reason for that decision - it's cheaper that way.

There are some politicians who are stuck in the past. Their fiery brand of confrontational politicking and disparaging remarks are outdated and out of synch with efforts to keep debates and public meetings relevant, factual and civil. There are fewer diehard voters than before. People are thinking more about performance capabilities, party policies and less about war-like insulting words that only serve to belittle and/or inflame. Derogatory statements insult both the intended target and the audience.

An insult that backfired

During the campaign for People's National Party (PNP) president, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, K.D. Knight, pronounced that Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller was so intellectually challenged that she would have to be forewarned of questions that may be asked of her at the international level (I'm paraphrasing because the actual statement was quite insensitive). To this day I believe that Mr. Knight insulted the lady so badly that it hurt his cause and helped her immensely.

And recently, while addressing a group of party supporters at a divisional conference in Albert Town,Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for South East St. Andrew, Joan Gordon-Webley, was so rankled by what she sees as the PM's exploitation of our love affair with religion that she parroted a remark from the penny section and likened the Prime Minister of Jamaica to Jezebel JLP General Secretary, Karl Samuda, publicly apologised to the PM and Mrs. Gordon-Webley grudgingly withdrew her statement under extreme pressure, I strongly suspect that the infamous and cruel remark has hurt the JLP and benefited the PM.

We must move beyond the election time 'gifts' and mud-slinging of 'politics as usual'. The electorate deserves better than transparent ploys, airy-fairy promises and rabble-rousing. We need resolute leaders with concrete solutions to our many problems.