Constitutional Reform Not Connecting

It is said that the constitution of the 1962 Independence process was ‘not by the Jamaicans and not for the Jamaicans’, but rather a borrowed concept from our colonial masters to smoothen our transition to an independent nation.

Fast forward to 2023, and thus far this Constitutional Reform process can be described as ‘by some Jamaican people and for some Jamaican people’, with the roadmap and phases of implementation already decided upon without much input as to what the collective mass would deem as priority or how they would like to see the process unfold.

 

An accepted notion amongst Jamaicans is that those within parliament are there because ‘they know best’ and are the brightest, they should formulate the laws or policy, debate, and vote on those laws while regular citizens should complain about issues and vote in elections. This upsetting misconception may have been appropriate in a fledgling democracy finding its footing but has no place in a maturing modern democratic nation.

 

If we were true to the principles of Democracy and the Westminster model of government then the people would be at the core of this Constitutional Reform process from conceptualization to implementation and resolution. It is wholly unfair to the people of Jamaica and specifically the youth, that the Government of Jamaica had decided to embark on a path of reform without first having the sort of inclusive discussions they are now seeking to have now. The renewal or refreshing of previous works done by commissions that existed decades ago would have been of vital importance to any administration that truly understands the impact of such a momentous change on future generations.

It also doesn’t help that the Constitutional Reform Committee seemed to have public education and communication as an afterthought. In a world of AI and TikTok, a communications strategy should have been developing prior to the formation of the CRC, seeing that the Government had the implementation approach in mind.

The CRC must resist the “token participation” tactics of that is only seen to be transparent and accepting of feedback but in practice, the policy is already set.

 

We all know distrust in government is high due to low transparency therefore It is crucial for this Constitutional Reform process to be open and inclusive at every step of the way.

 

At the end we must have a constitution for Jamaicans, by Jamaicans for future Jamaicans.

Fix Vision 2030 accountability mechanism

The Vision 2030 National Development Plan was created in 2008, with the adaptation of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, but there have not been any deliberative discussions or reviews by the central or local government until now.

The scope of the auditor general's report titled Jamaica's Preparedness for Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal's, published in September, included:

• an institutional framework for the implementation of the SDGs;

• resource allocation and capacity-building mechanisms; and

• strategies for raising awareness, monitoring and reporting on the progress of preparedness for SDG implementation.

The report points out several significant lapses in accountability that need to be with urgency by our nation's leaders, one of which is the need for a strengthening of the institutional framework that governs the Vision 2030/SDGs implementation.

According to the report, Planning Institute of Jamaica “assumed the lead role”; however, there was no documented evidence to confirm this role as the lead agency. Further, the auditor general found that the lines of accountability were unclear in the National SDG Core Group.

While we seek long-term funding for the full implementation of the SDGs, there must be a strong institutional framework that ensures our monitoring and accountability is well organised and transparent, or we will suffer mismanagement of resources.

 To this end, the report highlighted that the Ministry of Finance and Public Service has no representation on the national core group oversight committee, even though it has responsibility for collection and allocation of public revenue to allow for socio-economic development.

The report recommends that Cabinet considers “delegating overarching responsibility for coordinating the implementation”. This will “identify clear lines of accountability”. It also recommends “the formation of an internal mechanism to apprise parliamentarians of their role and the approach to be taken with respect to matters relating to SDGs”.

Although this audit did not examine SDG preparedness at the sub-national level, I wish to implore every municipal corporation to adopt this audit because SDG implementation at the local level translates to national sustainable development.

The whole of Government, including the Office of the Cabinet, must take serious responsibility for fixing these mechanisms that will serve us well long after 2030, as they seek to strengthen our long-term planning, monitoring and evaluation capabilities.

#JaNoVote2016: Misleading "Pro-Voting" Preaching

 "A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user" - Theodore Roosevelt

During the election season "pro-voting" media content and conversations become almost unbearable trying to save "nonvoters" and "undecided" from everlasting torture in pit of Hell-ocracy, with everyone reading from the same bible. 

Vote evangelists wants you to put a X beside something, thinks that everybody has to identify with a political party, and they keep skipping the first commandment of a democracy; participation. I was compelled - possibly touched - to write this with hope of relieving many "non voters" and "undecided" of their 
"sins."


I will declare that I have not voted and will not vote until I have seen a candidate or a political party or a candidate that best represents and voices the issues that concerns me the most; which includes making comprehensive constitutional and governance reform a top level priority, environmental protection, equality and closing the income gap, until that appointed time I will withhold exercising this sacred right. 


Many would immediately choose to castigate my choice, by automatically replying "If you don't use your right, you will lose it;" indeed this message intended to support citizen empowerment and participation cannot be used to justify irresponsible use or abuse of a your own rights. As I was I understand it, being a citizen in a democratic society, one has individual rights with mutually linked responsibilities. These rights ensure equality and justice for all regardless of what 'divides' us and the responsibilities are there to prevent us from infringing upon others and own rights.

Right to Vote & Its Responsibilities

If you do decide to cast your ballot then you've decided to engage in a single part of "the 
process" that is linked to generations of hardships, fights, bloodshed, activism and political 

willingness across the world. The right to have a say in who is allowed to govern locally or nationally is an awesome task and is constraint by 2 main responsibilities: become informed 
and vote according to ones certain belief.


Therefore a vote should be respected as it symbolises a conscious decision in which the chosen person or party is indeed the best representation of one's belief at that moment with all issues factored in. Hence, to defy ones conscience and express his beliefs wrongly on a ballot is to behave as a irresponsible citizen and soil the sacredness of the vote. It is then safe deduce that one should not be chastised for being an informed "non-voter" or an "undecided" who has weighed all options and come to a conclusion, those who are to be shamed are the irresponsible voters who are the legions of "die-hearts" and "party loyalist" who are uninformed and their only certain belief is that "mi is born PNP or JLP." 

A Dangerous Farce

Any political messaging that seeks to segregate or render a group of people as second class citizen must not be entertained and rebuked as dangerous to the social fabric of our nation. 

Many declared "nonvoters" and "undecided" receive flack; before, during and after election season because the prevailing belief is that "you have no say" and should not say anything because you don't vote. It is encouraged by our political leaders especially those who could benefit from higher turnouts, when they take to political platforms "looking votes" as disguised advocates of citizen involvement. The undue burden of being told how horrible not voting is, and how your allowing bad people to win.


It is a selfish practise to satisfy a politicians own shortcomings in their own inabilities to inspire 
or motivate. Which is often discussed as an aside to blaming "nonvoters" and "undecideds" for the state of nations governance and democracy. 

"The Process" and Participation

I, like so many other young, politically untethered Jamaicans are aware of the encryption and political warping since independence of what a democratic society truly represents in the 21st Century, then we can easily resist and counter the calls for "undecideds" and "non-voters" to "come off the fence" or "come into the yard," respectively. 

We know that voting is not "the process" but apart of the process that includes: 

• dialogue between state and civil society, 
• advocacy, activism, 
• volunteering, 
• affecting/writing policy, 
• old media/social media interactions, 
• civil action/protest, 
• by keeping yourself informed and the list continues. 

Discussions must begin to focus on how we get people involved not just to lead towards a ballot box but create long-lasting positive changes in their society by speaking up and speaking out against bad governance.


Only voting every 5 years cannot and shouldn't be seen as participation. One doesn't affect govt policy or hold government accountable when its convenient for the government, you have to disrupt and intervene whenever there is need to tell the government: We want Fixed Election Dates! Leave the Goat Islands! or #FireFenton!


I don't vote and I don't feel any pressure to vote, because I know I've a well informed and certain decision to withdraw from voting, nothing separates me from someone voting PNP or JLP. I subscribe to my responsibility as a citizen of democratic state to participate otherwise until I decided or find necessary to vote.

Will North East St. Elizabeth Start a Political Revolution in Jamaica?

On February 25th the voters of North East St Elizabeth will be going to polls to choose from 4 candidates (1PNP, 1JLP, 1PNP-Independent and an Independent) that have declared their interest in being the Member of Parliament for the constituency well-known as a People National Party (PNP) stronghold or garrison. But should the word “revolution” will be tagged to the race that could possible see the first Independent Member of Parliament (MP) be elected to Gordon House?

One of the Independent candidates Joseph Patterson, President of the United Independent Congress (UIC) in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, believes his campaign; victory and following historic entry into Parliament would “bring forth arevolution like never before” being the first elected Independent MP.  The United Independent Congress’s platforms are based on strong constitution and governance reform, and Mr. Patterson is committed to bringing the Congress’s platforms to parliament; reforms that the current political establishment has been unwilling to touch for over 53years.

Why is it a Revolution?       

To understand why the outcome of the North East St Elizabeth electoral race may be framed as a revolution we must first know what revolution is; the Oxford     dictionary assigns two definitions to the word “revolution”, firstly “a forcible overthrowof a government or social order, in favour of a new system,” secondly “adramatic and wide-reaching change in conditions, attitude or operation.”

Within the context of Jamaica, a two party system controlled by elected representations at both central and local government, a revolution would constitute any disruption to this system of government. We should not underestimate the ability of Jamaicans to recognize “change” as swing accordingly, hence there is no doubt in my mind that constituents in other areas of island will begin to question their own situation and stop settling for “the lesser evil.”

This change in attitude towards politics, governance and what we must begin expect and demand will no doubt only come when a single constituency decided to spark something much bigger than North East and give back Jamaica its Independence almost 54 years after it exchanged one master for another.

I encourage the all voters in North East St Elizabeth especially the youth, not to fear or intimated by whispers of revolution but embrace the fact you don’t need guns or bombs but a vote tocreate real change.

via GIPHY

Jamaica's Political Establishment Implosion and The Independent Challenger in 2016

It was to the end of 2015 that I came across the term "political resocialization" while watching a forum on youth participation in democratic conducted by the youth group Respect Jamaica an UNICEF Jamaica initiative.

Indeed the speaker eluded to the fact that the Jamaica's political  culture after the bloody and divisive period of the mid 1970's to 1980 had serious skewered how the newly independent nation defined democracy and was the beginning of the acclimatization of pre & post independence Jamaicans to tribal, dependent, corrupt and unreliable politics that has persisted even to this day with robust national development left to suffer in its wake.

Within the same period of last year as Prime Minister Simpson-Miller hinted at a very possible early election, her own party[The People's National Party] candidate selection was turned into nothing less than a circus show of the undesirable elements of politicking including accusations of corruption and favoritism, mudslinging, conspiracies of all sorts left to fester as once favored, seemingly 'working' first term Members of Parliament were replaced in their respective runoffs.

With the election a certainty in 2016 and volatility within the political establishment at an all time high, there is no doubt that the two party system is heading towards implosion as the formal structures for handling internal matters begins to buckle under the call for a more democratic process. 

This call is strongest in the rural constituency of North-East St. Elizabeth, that has been a stronghold for the PNP as the first time young turk Raymond Pryce will be replaced with another candidate after the selection; his supporters have been adamant that they will only support the party at the ballot only if MP Pryce is the candidate.

The Independent

With the opposition party Jamaica Labour Party unlikely to pose a challenge in North-East St.Elizabeth there is a growing void for representation that s by the people and for the people. Joseph Patterson, the President of the newly formed United Independent Congress(UIC) has decided to plant his feet in the divided constituency and take advantage of the weaken stronghold.

Joseph Patterson(UIC President)

The commentary and media coverage thus far
hasn't officially recognized the traction being gained by Mr Patterson's campaign and real possibility of making electoral history being the first elected Independent since Jamaica's independence in 1962. This historic moment could possibly be a political, if not democratic statement on the path forward to better governance and politics.

With an independent being supported in a constituency with a voter turnout of 32% shared among the main parties in last general election; his ability to tap into the 48% of non-voters will be crucial. With a freshness and difference about him, and the possible pride of being the first constituency to elected an Independent is certainly energizing enough to get non-voters out on the day.

With constitutional and governance reform a critical part of the UIC's mandate, Jamaica maybe heading towards a galvanizing shift away from the colonial masters inspired system of governance.

Local Authorities and Local Advisory Committees

Although there has been a major leap in central government's agenda on Local Government Reform with the passing of the 3 pieces of legislation in 2015 aimed at giving greater authority and autonomy to the local authorities to be called "Municipal Corporations" and "City Municipalities" over their own affairs.

The laws are by no means perfect but are the result of many years of study and lobbying by
stakeholders, wanting to preserve and strengthen the bastardized institution that often receives
criticism for being a unnecessary economic burden and a political tool for rewarding the political parties' grassroots activists seeking representational roles.

But we shouldn't undervalue local government's importance in the day to day running of a nation by
actively fulfilling the national policies of the central government in nooks and crannies, translating
registration into action that directly affect the people, providing the communication channel between
state and people and most importantly the nearest point of contact the people have to affect state
policy; these are just a few basic roles.

Local Participatory Process

In the memorandum of objects and reason the Minister Arscott states "a participatory process which
facilities the direct involvement of key local stakeholders."

And If local government is indeed crucial for 'affecting state policy'; then local authorities must not fail to give life to sections "21" "22" and "37" of the "Local Governance Act 2015" which gives them power to create committees that will help in governance of their perspective parishes.

Sector specific advisory committees or taskforce are constituted of civil society, experts, private sector and citizens that are impacted by the decisions or nondecisions of state and are better placed to
understand best ways to craft and implement policy. The likes of local civil groups and advocates are
often overshadowed by the more influential national groups but this bypass is detrimental to local
governance.

Although we have numerous public agencies involved in community agencies that function under the Local Government Ministry, they too often operate as independent cells and The Parish Development Committee is private sector driven.

Few Councils have already implemented taskforce, but the government must see the need to make
mandatory at least four committees or taskforce: Youth. Women, Environment and Health. These
committees are usually voluntary or stipend hence no additional cost and the outcome outweighs the
cost.

However, leaving the local governance as a political tool would create more waste, more corruption and less governance.

Constitutional Reform: A Must Before 2030

Truth: The failure of our political leaders to notice the decay of our democracy was no mere oversight; rather it was an omission of a selfish nature that comes with the territory of the Jamaican political leadership that puts self before constituents and nation. 

The idea that the system is for the powerful few and not the majority has sent the constitutional reform discussion into the void of ‘soft issues’ or ‘that cyaa eat’ grey area of the Jamaican consciousness.

The Internal power struggles of the past couple of weeks in the two major political parties cannot and should not be passed along as simple politicking, especially after an unfortunate fiery climax in MP.Raymond Pryce’s North-East St Elizabeth constituency.

Peoples National Party

Another unpleasant example included Dr Bloomfield losing his candidate selection race then being reinstated after a strong showing on an internal poll, the Peoples National Party’s General Secretary tried to explain that party delegates did understand the party constitution and its regulations – that the candidate selection was an “indicative” ballot due the constituency being “provisional”. The action of the party would have offended any laypersons grasp of democracy.

It must be seen for what it is; a complete disregard for democratic principles, corrupt processes and glaring mistrust in our political system and institutions.

Renewed Effort

With the shady inner workings of the political parties on full display and in the light, there must be tripled effort to improve our governance structure through constitutional reform.

The recent calls by private sector has only reinforced the need for the parliament of Jamaica both the governing administration and the opposition to embrace and concentrate on constitutional reform.  The modernization of Jamaica’s democratic principles and processes has not kept abreast with the rest of the developing world or those nations we aspire to be by 2030.

As the Partnership for Jamaica Agreement states that signed parties must “reaffirm and recommit to the principles of social dialogue and partnership, specifically to further the process of deepening democracy and participatory decision-making.”

As citizens, private sector, civil society, church and other internal forces, must bring pressure on all individual candidates for elected office and their affiliated political organization to commit to the execution of constitutional reform before 2030. 

It is ultimately the hands of parliament that must be moved to set controls upon themselves and repower the majority.