HAUGHTON

Two years ago Antonette Haughton-Cardenas was passionate about starting her new political party ú the United People’s Party (UPP). She was optimistic about making an impact in Jamaica and the general elections.

Today her optimism for politics seems to have died.

“Politics is an ugly place and I don’t know if God has put me there,” she told All Woman last week. “I don’t see it. I don’t feel it and I don’t see myself there. I don’t have a desire to be in politics now.”

According to Haughton-Cardenas while she was not closing the political door she did not see herself walking down the road of politics right now.

Haughton Cardenas’ UPP failed to win a seat in the October 16 general elections held in Jamaica last year and since then very little has been said about the party’s future. The UPP was launched in August 2001 and initially had a mostly female following. Over half of the first members were women.

While she did not comment on the UPP’s future, Haughton-Cardenas, said that she much preferred to focus on what she was doing now ú practising law and hosting the talk show Disclosure.

“I am operating on love and passion for life and that is part of what I am exploring for the show,” said Haughton-Cardenas, who replaced politician Bruce Golding and started hosting the radio programme on Monday, September 1.

Haughton-Cardenas, formerly hosted Hotline on Radio Jamaica before resigning to form the United People’s Party. A passionate, aggressive and tough-talking person Haughton-Cardenas has always commanded significant listenership on air. She is also known for her work as an attorney. Her latest high-profile case involved a young woman that was infected with HIV/Aids in a public hospital.

When Haughton-Cardenas spoke to All Woman she was very enthused about the show which airs weekdays from 10am until 2:30 pm.

According to her, she brought a special blend of love and information that was bound to draw people.

“I try to teach what I need to learn. I am operating on love and passion for life. My duty is to raise awareness and consciousness,” she said.

Out of this mandate she said, she had special segments such as the ‘Good News’ where she highlighted persons who had defeated the odds.

“I have historical lessons which are done at 11:30 on a Tuesday. I have done persons like Garvey, Jamaica’s history since 1938 and now,

I want to powerfully educate our people in real terms. I am doing it differently baby,” she said.

One marked difference is her new outspokenness on spirituality. This she said is a result of her taking more time to be with God.

“I am a God-loving person. I don’t like labels so I won’t say I am a Christian or a Rasta and so on. I love God. God is perfect love,” she said. ” I am trying to meditate. I pray a lot and I listen a lot more to God ú much more than I used to.”

While she said that she would not be pursuing politics now, she stressed that she still had a whole lot to give.

“I am just finding a different way to do the work that I have to do,” she said. “I want to find a way to help the single mom with six kids and the mother in the ghetto who is struggling. The more we give is the more we have.”

She explained that she had taken a more global perspective, looking not only at things in Jamaica but broader issues such as the state of the environment.

“We are all responsible for the state of this planet. So many people are dying worldwide because of hunger. Do you think that it is because there is not enough?” she argued in her husky tones. “No it is because of greed and selfishness so resources are not properly distributed.”

“We accept survival of the fittest but that is wrong. The strong has to look after the weak so that we can all survive. I have learnt that we have to love our neighbour as ourselves. We have to look within ourselves to ú if not we will go without.”

Motivating and empowering people, Haughton-Cardenas said, has been her aim especially working through Disclosure.

“People call and say I felt so down until I heard you… people need to know that they can do what they set their mind to, that they are loved. God loves them and I love them,” she said.

For those who would criticise and tear down what she was doing, she had this to say.

“You send love to those who say terrible things ú send them love and light,” she said.