Jamaicans now want discipline?
Dear Editor,
The
Jamaica Observer‘s excellent editorial, ‘The scourge of indiscipline’ published on January 22, 2017, is spot on. This issue is, indeed, the root cause of our indifferent progress after almost 55 years of political independence and was among the things feared by our first prime minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, which he expresses in a speech at the dawn of Independence.
Two additional observations are in order. I posit that there are only two kinds of discipline: self-discipline and imposed discipline. Clearly we have not exhibited the former; sadly our leaders have refused to do the latter.
Michael Manley promised “heavy manners”, but never delivered. Edward Seaga, the tough “Maas Eddie” of the 1960s became “Uncle Eddie” once in power, refusing to use his eight-year virtual total control of Parliament to impose the required discipline and then hailing that as a virtue. As far as imposing discipline, the less said of our other prime ministers the better.
Secondly, it has been argued that the refusal of our leaders to impose discipline, enforce existing laws, and pass strict new ones is because they were afraid to lose votes. Undoubtedly this was the motivating factor. But would they really have lost votes?
While this may, or may not have been so in the past, it seems to me that the nation has now reached such a critical stage — with the economy poised for take-off but held back by the indiscipline and crime your editorial outlined — that the people are ready for leadership that stresses discipline and law enforcement.
In this regard, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie seems to be the shining light of the Andrew Holness-led Jamaica Labour Party Administration.
Certainly those past leaders — Portia Simpson Miller being just the latest — who refused to impose discipline may wish to reflect that this stance did not help them stay in power. Voters sent them into retirement anyway.
Where are they now? And, in what light will they be viewed by history?
Errol W A Townshend
Ontario, Canada
ewat@rogers.com