We are not short, in Jamaica, of explanations for the stagnation of the economy since the late 1960s.

Pundits, qualified or not, have blamed colonialism, neo-colonialism, socialism, capitalism, adverse external developments, natural disasters, unpatriotic private sector greed, overpopulation, crime, erosion of preferential trade arrangements, the Washington Consensus and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the like.

A few are honest and perceptive enough to point to bad economic policy and worse, economic mismanagement evidenced by astronomic interest rates and lack of international competitiveness.

Still, some pass off as analysis trite comments about arrogant politicians, inefficient civil servants, impractical academics and international bureaucrats.

Should the People’s National Party (PNP) regain state power, they will certainly look towards Mr Mark Golding or Mr Peter Bunting for a finance minister. Dr Omar Davies’ considerably diminished reputation in economic policy would not prevent a party official of such long standing from serving in the Cabinet.

In fact, failed ministers of finance have remained in the Cabinet and some have even risen to be prime minister.

The real cause of poor policy and mismanagement is Jamaica’s political culture. It is a culture of raw tribalism with inadequate honesty, civility and patriotism. It is characterised by the ideological extremes, consorting with criminals (local and international such as Marc Rich), a tolerance for violence for political ends and a willingness to put the possibility of short-term political notoriety ahead of the good of the land they profess to love.

In this political culture since the early 1970s, politicians have made statements even overseas about locking down the country as tight as a sardine tin, threatening civil disobedience, predicting default on the national debt, predicting epidemics and intimating the possibility of reneging on contractual obligations.

Even more despicable have been actions such as blocking roads, distributing false information to the media, furnishing grievances about national institutions to embassies and picketing tourism facilities.

It is our combative political culture which is at the root of Jamaica’s economic failure. The proof is that other countries have faced more difficult circumstances with less resources and their economic performance has been far better.

Before Jamaica can accomplish the unavoidable tectonic shift in economic policy it must have a transformation of its political culture and an abandonment of the political traditions to which the nation has become habituated. A house divided cannot stand. We need to banish those who divide the country for political gains. Pragmatism and patriotism must be the order of the day.

This does not mean that the opposition party or any citizen, organisation or political group should not indulge in constructive criticism. This is an essential ingredient in the democratic process. There is a great deal to be contributed to formulating better economic policy and much to be improved by criticising economic management, but it must be constructive and sensitive to the good of the country and its reputation.

While the PNP is to be commended for admirable restraint, responsible debate and mature comportment, Dr Davies’ statements on debt, taxation and printing money do not meet these standards.