Hilary Robertson-Hickling

Welcome to the new members of the Senate and farewell to the old ones. Like the wonderful performance of the members of the Jamaica Defence Force at Buckingham Palace recently, I am sure that the members of the Senate will perform well in their ceremonial role. However, we will require more of them than ceremony, we will require the kind of contribution that will get the country out of the current quagmire.

It would appear that style is overtaking substance in national affairs and that we continue to focus on what women are wearing as opposed to what they are thinking or doing. I notice that the new senators are mainly young men and I suppose that there must be some good reasons for this. I would hope that the reasons for the selection of one person over another might also be made evident. If not, the selection will only add to the sense that it is patronage as opposed to productivity or probity which has guided these selections.

Emotional intelligence

The new guard must demonstrate high levels of emotional intelligence, empathy, self-awareness, self-management , the appropriate management of interpersonal conflict as well as an ever present display of dignity. Power must be used wisely as many need to remember that "the higher monkey climb the more he is exposed". In addition, there must be a commitment to courtesy as they rise, otherwise they will meet hostile onlookers when the time comes for their departure.

Frankly, the Jamaican populace is expecting an improvement in the behaviour of the parliamentarians and the senators. This nation has serious business to be addressed seriously and soberly. We do not want to see any more boisterous displays or tracing matches as we already have too much of this kind of behaviour in the public and private arena. We expect our leaders to lead and to set an example.

At this time, we have not only said goodbye to the old guard in the Senate, but also the elder statesman Sir John Compton from St. Lucia. A generation of politicians who are now in the 80s and 90s are disappearing from the scene. Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro are among the most beloved of that generation and their successors are now on the stage. The need for the planning of succession in politics is very important as we need to ensure that politicians leave the scene when it is their time to go. One of the saddest spectacles is that of businessmen, politicians or other leaders who do not know when it is time to bow out. The politician-for-life approach should be replaced by an approach which allows that person to contribute in other spheres of national or international life as long as they are able. The nation's business cannot be held hostage by one person or a group of persons who behave like the nation is his or her personal fiefdom.

A mature electorate and nation requires mature leadership!