By Marjorie A. Stair, Bureau Chief
Stair: (Davies) own moral self-scrutiny put the words in his mouth, which otherwise would have been impossible for him to share outside of his closed party circles.
IN HIS book, 'Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning', Viktor E. Frankl tells us that conscience is irrational; it is illogical or, better put, prelogical. Conscience is regarded as being irrational because, while in action, it can never be explained in rational terms, as such explanation is possible only "after the fact". Moral self-scrutiny also is only possible afterward and Frankl goes on to say that it is the task of conscience to disclose to man the unum necesse, the one thing that is required.
So, when people question why Dr. Omar Davies, now beleaguered Honourable Minister of Finance, chose to confirm what we all knew but of which we had no concrete evidence, the only response can be that his irrational conscience took hold of him and he had no choice. His own moral self-scrutiny put the words in his mouth, which otherwise would have been impossible for him to share outside of his closed party circles.
I have pointed out over the years that political instead of economic based decision-making, especially by the Patterson led PNP administration is what has not only aggravated our economic crisis but has
created a social crisis of its own. The interest of the country and the well being of the citizens have become expendable in all of the efforts to secure and maintain power by any means necessary even postponing flood relief to those in need. I was one of those who believed that the 2002 elections, for example, should have been postponed, given the heavy rains and the fact that many of our citizens had been forced to vacate their homes and were living in shelters on October 16.
It was Dr Omar Davies, however, who, during the height of the election campaign led sessions with business leaders and the press, one of which was held in Montego Bay on October 3, 2003. I attended the Montego Bay session and it was quite clear to me that the Minister of Finance had real concerns about the pre and post election economic reality of our country Jamaica based on his presentation, "Economic Reality vs. Election Promises. Dr Davies was as open and frank then as he was in addressing his PNP colleagues and supporters in recent days.
HIS PRESENTATION LISTED
THE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES
AS BEING:
- The World Economy particularly the USA
- Middle East Instability Oil prices
- Tourism
- Post flood reconstruction and infrastructure
The medium challenges discussed were:
- Maintenance of macro-economic stability
- Interest rate production
- Increased production in both the traditional and non-traditional sectors
- Debt management, both external and domestic
- Maintenance of Social Stability reduction of crime and violence;
expansion of employment and expansion of training opportunities
- Education
- Tourism re-establishment of markets, crime and violence, the
product itself as well as other marketing challenges.
Having been a part of this pre-election revelation of the country's economic reality, I know that Dr Davies conscience took over at the PNP meeting that has put him at the centre of a political quagmire.
Who is to blame for the decisions taken, however? Omar Davies or P. J. Patterson? The Prime Minister has stated that the Minister of Finance retains his full confidence, in the same way that he attempted to exonerate former Minister of Government, Dr Karl Blythe of all guilt relating to the Operation Pride fiasco, and dismissed Phillip Paulwell's IT fiasco and the Netserv scandal as being due to 'youthful exuberance'. Many attribute this to loyalty. From where I sit, it is the Prime Minister, the master politician who calls the shots so he has no choice but to defend his Ministers. He, more than anyone else, readily accepted the advice of his Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, as he did not want to see, "Seaga correcting the problem". Operation PRIDE is his project, as he wants to be remembered as the Prime Minister who has distributed the most land, regardless. The political decision-making is predominantly his, as he is the master politician in the party. And his strategies have worked in the party's favour.
The approach taken by the Patterson led PNP administration has not only offered them a fourth term in office but has resulted in the following:
The expenditure of billions of dollars of taxpayers money in politically contrived schemes and projects for which the country has received precious little value, and which has not contributed to either the growth or development of the country and its people. Who is going to call to account funds
spent via the SESP programme for example and the increasing arrogance of the politician and disenchantment of the electorate for which he shows contempt.
Decreasing participation of the electorate in the electoral process, especially the younger voters who have become increasingly cynical and as contemptuous of the political leaders who they realise also hold them in deep contempt'.
In his inaugural address on March 5, 1877 Rutherford Hayes, 19th President of the United states of America, 1877 to 1881 had this to say:
"He serves his party best who serves the country best".
This thought, if they ever heard it, is lost on the members of the present PNP administration, and indeed the JLP Administration if we are to assess them by recent actions and performance. They clearly think that he serves the country best who serves his party best and I was horrified to hear a young leader of the PNPYO expressing this thought in different words. No enlightened leadership waiting in the wings to effect any meaningful change and lead the country out of its devastating social, political and economic crisis. The predominant concern is getting or holding on to political power at all costs.
The PNP party has played the 'Seaga factor' quite effectively in their successful attempt to hold on to power.
One good thing that has come out of it is that the JLP Opposition has suddenly realised that it is an Opposition party and their job is to air the concerns of those who they represent and not join with the government in committees in an attempt to entrench questionable political systems, some of which should be abolished, that both have co-operated to develop over the years. It is only an effective Opposition party and a more politically conscious and educated people, which will effect the changes needed in Jamaica. The JLP has been staging roadblocks and disrupting civil life. Their strong presence in Parliament must now cause them to use the existing institutions to ensure effective representation of the disenchanted people of this country, who have completely lost faith in politicians and the corrupt and violent political system the two parties have created.
