Devon Dick THE RESPONSE of South African president Thabo Mbeki at the civic ceremony on Monday June 30, on receiving the Key to Kingston, to the heckling by some Rastafarians, was pure class pregnant with many lessons for Jamaica about how to govern and how to protest. He responded to the hecklers and took note of their protest while reminding them that that is not the way. He, a Head of State, also offered to meet with the hecklers to explain the matter concerning Winnie Mandela. That was a class act.
RESPONDING TO HECKLERS
I have never seen a Head of State responding to unruly hecklers. Hecklers are seen as nuisances and normally security officers would have been asked to remove them.
Mbeki was not playing to the gallery with his response because he made it clear that the manner of the protest was out of order and that while he revered anti-apartheid fighter Winnie Mandela and considered her a friend there are times when friends make mistakes. He is indeed a worthy successor to Nelson Mandela, the man who forgave those who had imprisoned him for over a quarter of a century for no good reason.
Like Mbeki and the Rastafarians, I am an admirer of Winnie Mandela. One of the pleasures of my life was having breakfast with Winnie and Nelson Mandela along with other church leaders. While Nelson Mandela spoke appreciatively about the role of the church in the struggle against apartheid, she sat quietly with a winsome smile. Her quiet demeanour was a far cry from the image I had of her as a freedom fighter. I left inspired and impressed, not only with Nelson but also with Winnie.
I was therefore saddened to learn of the divorce between the Mandelas. I wish it was otherwise. Equally painful is to hear the charges and conviction against Winnie. So I can understand the pain of the Rastafarians. However, the protest action was crass.
National Hero, Right Excellent Paul Bogle and a few followers made a 40-mile journey to bring to the attention of Governor Edward Eyre the deplorable conditions that existed in St. Thomas in 1865. They failed to get audience. They then staged a protest march and still nothing and then the final protest march when they were shot at and the rest is history.
AUDIENCE
That is how we ought to protest. The Dreads should have sought audience with Mbeki and if that failed, then they brandish placards but heckling was in poor taste.
In addition, the government made a mistake in not inducting Senator Desmond McKenzie as Mayor of Kingston in time to officiate at the function especially since he was eager to perform that duty. The former mayor has had her time including officiating at the civic ceremony to present keys to another African head of state in August of 2002.
It is necessary to establish time between election of a councillor and the installation as a mayor. The same should be done for the election of a new government. It could get even uglier in the future. It just did not ring right to see Mayor Marie Atkins performing that duty. Again the PNP could learn from the humble way in which Mbeki responded to his detractors. That handing over should have been sorted out amicably and not subject this esteemed guest to such a display.
In addition the JLP's boycott was inappropriate. The protest should be directed toward the government and not our guest. We should not wash our dirty linen in public. In fact, when one has been wronged and one still performs it shows strength of character. Mayor Desmond McKenzie should have turned up with a big chain around his neck that resembled the mayoral one and get a round of applause and let us laugh it off and show the folly of the PNP's action.
The Rastas have apologised and it is time for the PNP and the JLP to apologise to President Thabo Mbeki for their actions.
Mbeki has promised to send to the West Indies technical support as we prepare to host the 2007 Cricket World Cup based on the South African expertise in hosting the 2003 Cricket World Cup. He is also carrying out the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and he could send us some experts to explain the benefits and pitfalls of such a Commission and in addition send us some more pointers on how to protest and how to govern responsively.
President Thabo Mbeki is pure class, teaching us how to protest and govern responsively and responsibly.
The Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
