It has been said that when the United States of Am
erica sneezes, countries like Jamaica in the Caribbean catch a cold.

This week all eyes have been on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, USA, where former President Donald J Trump will accept the nomination to run as the Republican Party’s (GOP) candidate in the November presidential election, destined to be one of the most pivotal in the history of that country, which has prided itself as being the bastion of democracy in the modern world.

Ironically, Trump’s highly predicted victory is being viewed by many as a possible end to that nation’s highly touted democratic way of life as espoused by the Founding Fathers after the British monarchy was dispensed with after the American War of Independence, which ultimately resulted in the promulgation of the much-revered American Constitution, positing, among other things, that the USA should never be ruled by a king, or queen, for that matter. Well, thanks to conservative members of the nation’s Supreme Court who seem to be beholden to Trump, he has been granted virtual immunity, which may well mean that he can take on the appurtenance of monarch of all he surveys.

Little Jamaica, a mere dot on the map of the world, ought to be cringing at the likelihood of that happening, as there are many negative consequences that are likely to emanate from such a Trump presidency. Even as the US President Joe Biden-led Democratic Party appears to be self-destructing and the Free World looks on in apprehension, fearing the likely deleterious consequences of a Trump Administration, it behoves all well-thinking citizens to not just raise their eyebrows in consternation but take deep interest in the political drama that is now unfolding.

At the time of writing this piece, most American news outlets were predicting that the wall around President Biden is closing as top Democrats as well influential big donors to that beleaguered party circle the wagon, urging him to throw in the towel and allow for a new nominee to emerge. This move is based on the premise that after reading the political tea leaves carefully, pundits have concluded that a Biden-Kamala Harris (she of Jamaican vintage) ticket cannot bring home the bacon.

Interestingly, there are many blacks, including Jamaicans, who are supporting the Trump ticket. But be that as it may, there is need for Jamaicans to take a cautious approach to backing the ascendancy, once again, of “the Donald” who is riding high, notwithstanding the recent assassination attempt on his life. Indeed, from all indications, it would appear that the incident has given a fillip to his electioneering efforts, with him taking on the image of a defiant hero (with raised fist and bloodied ear) – political theatre at its best!

Should Trump prevail in November, one of his most-feared policy proposals, which will have tremendous consequences for Jamaicans, is the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. It has been said that for every one Jamaican at home there is one abroad, and the United States is where many of them reside, quite a few thousand without proper papers. And while it is safe to say that many of these “yardies” are there seeking to live the American Dream, several of them are involved in various forms of criminal activities, including drug trafficking and scamming.

If Trump goes through with this threat, our beloved homeland is likely to be repopulated by many undesirables, which could mean a spike in crime and antisocial behaviour. After all, it has already been well documented that deportees have had a bad influence on Jamaican communities in more ways than one. On the other hand, there could be a major reduction in remittances, and it is well known that outside of tourism and bauxite, the funds sent back to Jamaica from the Diaspora amount to billions of dollars. Surely this has the potential to put a dent in our economy, not to mention the grief and suffering that many Jamaicans in the lower socio-economic bracket who look forward to the “little pittance” from abroad and barrels of goodies would experience.

Another area of concern in terms of the geopolitics is the matter of climate change, which has seen an increase in worldwide disasters, from massive tropical cyclones to wildfires, not to mention the heat! It has been well established that Trump is an anti-climate change advocate, labelling it hocus-pocus. Already, his conspiracy theory stance on the COVID-19 pandemic saw the loss of thousands of lives, as his Administration dilly-dallied on this deadly virus and the enormous consequences that ensued.

Right now we are in the throes of recovering from the onslaught of Hurricane Beryl, and at this early stage of the hurricane season, which is predicted to be a very active one, it boggles the mind that the man that is likely to become the most powerful individual in the world regards climate change, which is a clear and present danger, as a hoax.

Incidentally, let us not forget that Trump has very little regard for Third World states such as Jamaica. Some readers will recall that most demeaning photograph of Caribbean leaders, including our own Prime Minister Andrew Holness, sitting in a side room at Mar-a-Lago — Trump’s swanky residence — in Florida like penitent schoolboys waiting to see the principal, then President Trump. And also recall that he once referred to “poor” countries like ours as “s…holes”.

Under the triumphalist banner ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA), Trumpism has been appealing to populist sentiments, underpinned by racism and xenophobia, as well as a large group of anti-intellectual, conspiracy-minded, alienated malcontents and anti-immigrant, far-right, and fascist individuals that may well take America down a dangerous path to chaos, emboldened by autocracy akin to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire (or is it the Third Reich?) Of course, Trump’s vice-president pick, JD Vance, once referred to him as a modern-day Hitler!

Historically, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been aligned to the Republican Party while the People’s National Party (PNP) has been aligned to the Democratic Party. One must hasten to add that the Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan is not the one cavorting and having a grand time in Milwaukee. It is now Trump’s Party — MAGA.

The country is in such a quandary that a Jamaica that has always looked up to the great United Sates of America now finds itself questioning this once highly thought of nation. What a ‘hataclaps’!

Lloyd B Smith has been involved full-time in Jamaican media for the past 49 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as as the Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lbsmith4@gmail.com.