A Clarion Call for a Root and Branch Reform of the Jamaica Labour Party

Clarion Call for a Root and Branch Reform of the Jamaica Labour Party

This article seeks to supports in principle a clarion call for a much needed review of the Jamaica Labour Party. Among other suggestions it sets out a proposition for asking some key questions about its Organisational Structure and strategy on the back of two election losses and accusations of arrogance and a loss of credibility during its shot period of governance. The aim of the review should be to address to comprehensively address all the challenges faced by the JLP as it begins its recovery process. The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Andrew Holness this week announced a five-member Independent Strategic Review Commission (ISRC) which will, among other things, seek answers to the low voter turnout in the most recent elections, and articulate strategies to convert the "broad mass of disaffection" into JLP support. The commission, headed by professor of sociology, psychology and social work at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Bernard Headley, also include Rev Dr Maitland Evans, president of the International University of Caribbean and chairman of the Mel Nathan Institute, a 34-year-old inner-city empowerment project started in Hannah Town, West Kingston; Dr Marcia Forbes, communications specialist and media veteran; Dr Lloyd Waller, lecturer in methodology in the Department of Government at the UWI, Mona; and Professor Neville Swaby, a finance and banking expert who heads the University of Technology ,Jamaican Institute of Management (JIM) School of Advanced Management. The leadership need to put in place measures and take urgent steps to address its weaknesses. The leader of the party has to ask him-self the soul searching but relevant questions. What new capacity does the organisation require to lead this new phase of the struggle for survival and political relevance? And has he got the fighting spirit and the fire in his belly to implement the radical changes that are necessary?

In order to generate any meaningful discussion and analysis of the JLPs current state it is necessary for me to digress by delving into its history and pass achievements in government. Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is one of the two major political parties in Jamaica, the other being the People's National Party. Despite its name, the JLP is a centre-right, conservative party, albeit one with ties to the Jamaican labor movement. The party was founded on 8 July 1943 by Alexander Bustamante as the political wing of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union. It won the 1944 general elections with 22 of the 32 seats. It went on to win the 1949 elections with a reduced majority, before losing power to the PNP in the 1955 elections. It remained in opposition following the 1959 elections, but was victorious in 1962. In 1964 Bustamante retired from politics, he did not relinquish the title of party leader for several years, until the party gave him the honorific title of "The Chief" following its defeat in the 1972 elections. In the interim, the party was led by Donald Sangster (until 1967) and Hugh Shearer (until 1974), having the title of "First Deputy Leader “for the JLP.

In 1974 Edward Sage became the second leader of the party. The party lost the 1976 elections, but Seaga became Prime Minister after victory in 1980 when the party won 51 of the 60 seats. In an election boycotted by the opposition in 1983 the JLP won all sixty seats. They were defeated in the 1989 elections and went on to lose elections in 1993, 1997 and 2002. In 2005 Bruce Golding succeeded Seaga as head of the party, and led it to victory in the 2007 elections. Golding resigned as head of the party in October 2011 in the aftermath of a political scandal that affected the party image and credibility, and was succeeded by current leader Andrew Holness.The current leader Andrew Holness lost the general election in December 2011 to the PNP Portia Simpson Miller and by may 2012 the party again lost the Local Government elections. With the loss of the general Election in 2011 the JLP created history by becoming the first one term elected government in the history of post independent Jamaica

 The following is a list of the s achievement while in government: Under the JLP government in1948 The University College of the West Indies was established and the University College Hospital of the West Indies (UCHI) came into existence.In1952 The Jamaica Industrial Development Corporation (JIDC) and the Agricultural Development Corporation. In the same year The Jamaica Industrial Development Corporation (JIDC) and the Agricultural Development Corporation was born. In 1964 the National Heroes Park was constructed. Between 1965 and 1969 the Arawak and Port Royal Museums Established. In 1967 the Institute of Jamaica was established. In 1967 the reclamation and development of Ocho Rios Waterfront (Turtle Beach) was done.1968 ––Creation of National Heritage Week.1963 the National Arena was constructed .In 1971 the National School Feeding Programme was commissioned. In 1981 the National Development Bank (NDB) was established. In 1981The Agricultural Credit bank was established to provide loans for small farmer’s .In 1982 -The establishment of the Human Employment and Resource Trust (H.E.A.R.T.) opened up important new areas of practical skill training and employment opportunities for young people by taking a new and dynamic approach by focusing on the growth areas of the economy.

In 1984 Establishment of Food Stamp Programme for elderly poor and nursing mothers across the Island. In1985 Export – Import Bank (Exim Bank) was established. In 1986 there was the establishment of the Office of the Contractor General, originally proposed in 1979 to ensure equity and reduce corruption in the awarding of government contracts. In 1987 Tourism surged forward to bring in, for the first time (1987) one million visitors in a year. This industry was set on the high road of increasing growth and achieved a position of leadership as an earner of vital foreign exchange1In 1988 a large construction of residential halls was done by the government for UWI, UTECH and Cultural Training Centre placing student social and educational needs at the forefront. In2007 when the Bruce Golding led government took over the reins of government the greatest revolution in health care and education took place: free Primary and secondary education and free health care at the point of delivery.

 The history of political parties in a plural democracy is not a process of linear progress. Any political part that is serious about state governance has a history has ebbs and flows, ups and downs -successes and setbacks, moments of victory and those of defeat. The History of the JLP is no exception. The resilience of any organisation is illustrated by how it has been able to handle moments of setbacks and internal problems- in order to safeguard the cause of the people. In the JLP case it has a mandate by its founding father Bustamante: to seize opportunities and ensure victory for the Jamaican people’s struggle against economic hardship and social exclusion. On balance the JLP has a fairly good record of managing the economy with very limited resources. However the party have a poor history of getting the Jamaican electorate to buy into its Ideology of being a serious fiscal conservative organisation that cares about the poor. As a consequence the party has always struggled to shake off its arrogant uncaring way in which it communicates its policies and political agenda.

At the end of both post election concession of defeat speech the leader of the JLP narrowed the chance of making a progressive appeal pitched to the party’s faithful and sympathisers that he was remorseful of the losses and wanted to regain confidence and trust among the disaffected electorate. As a matter of fact -on the last concession of defeat speech -he made it clear to the media that he would entertain only three questions from the press. This ad hoc way of presenting political unscripted speeches seemed wholly unprofessional at the time and may have confirmed the arrogant hypothesis.

 Many political leaders of the past have see their political dreams shattered as General election results come in the late Hon. Michael Manley Was one of them. In 1980 as the loosing PNP supporters stared into political oblivion at the PNP head quarters, Michael Manley left his fingerprints on history and inspired hope among the party faithful with a memorable concession speech in the aftermath of the devastating 1980 election defeat. Defeat has inspired candidates of all stripes to deliver great moments of poetry that renewed their member’s belief in the political organization.

So the JLP clearly has a problem of delivery and presentation both internally and externally. In addition there were growing pains at an individual leadership level leading up to the loss of the general election. Its parliamentarians such as Mr Evrald Warming ton and former Parliamentarian Mr Ernest smith and other functionaries such as the Leader of the Generation 2K (Its youth Organisation) have long been a hindrance with their foot in mouth uttering’s that often smacks of colonialism. Senator Dwight Nelson could not distinguish Monday from Friday. Andre Franklyn was a disorganised General Secretary; Daryl Vaz had several arrogant cat fights with the media. In the heat of the election campaign Mike Henry the Construction minister lost his Cabinet post because of a political scandal. The party leader misread the pulse of the electorate hurriedly called a December election with getting the party’s prospective voters on the list. To top it all off -at the end of both election defeats the leader narrowed the dialectical space between himself and the public not once but twice in his concession of victory speeches. So the review is timely and necessary however, it should not be an exercise where high flouting academics come up with mumbo Jumbo solutions that are not in line with modernising the party. In order to unearth the weaknesses and failings of the organisation it is imperative that the following questions are asked:

(1)What has caused the Party’s core to shift from its base?

(2) Is the method of selecting candidates and the monitoring of their conduct working?

(3)Why is the JLP the “ugly Betty “of Jamaican Politics and what can be done to improve its image and likability?

(4)What does the Party need to do to attract and retain new supporters and membership?

(5)Is the Party’s Ideology and core message at odds with the current politic and domestic climate?

(6)Is the JLP centralised way of structuring its organisation working?

(7) Is the current leadership adequately trained and motivated sufficiently to lead the changes that the organisation needs?

(8) Are the JLP delegates and Party functionaries sufficiently trained and motivated to attract new supporters?

(9) Is the party’s candidates and leaders selected fairly by their local delegates and are they representative of the general population?

(10) Is the Party serious about tackling corruption and has the determination to uproot corrupt official from its leadership and distance itself from criminal activity and garrison politics?

 

Finally the success of the Jamaica Labour Party must come from a deep honest re-examination of its strategy and processes. The party must grow out of the conscience and participation of grass root Jamaicans not out of the arrogance of its leaders as it stands now. The Leader has to be the beacon of the reclamation he is a nice man but he comes over as boring and need to get a spring in his step and a new sparkle in his eyes. Leadership is for the bold and not the faint hearted. He should head Napoleon Hill’s advice that” every failure and heartache carries with it a seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.”The recommendations of the review is not a tool of appeasement .It will have to be taken seriously as its the JLP last straw of hope as the Party is in decline. The label of a one term government has shaken the party’s supporters and financial backers about its future. it’s time for the leadership of the JLP to show guts and determination by rallying this once great organisation to a bold and radical departure Jamaica needs a strong Labor party as it stands now it’s a  shadow of its old self.

 Donovan Reynolds is a London based Human Rights Campaigner/Social Workerand Independent Writer with an interest in politics and international development.Feedback and comments can be posted on this blog or you may e-mail comments at dannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk