Garth Rattray

We've all heard the phrase, "it's the Jamaica Labour Party time now" or "it's the People's National Party time now". It's generally felt that politicised individuals subscribe to obligatory but surreptitious house-cleaning with each administration change. Jamaicans have therefore come to expect that, with each new government, there will be unemployment for some and employment for the party faithful being rewarded for their loyalty with jobs, posts and contracts.

I know of people that have been told by friends or relatives to put their businesses in order because they WILL be getting government contracts. They were not told that they might be considered for a government contract or even that they are likely to get a contract, they were guaranteed a government contract even before any bidding took place; this, in spite of all the efforts of the Contractor General.

Several recent occurrences are giving people the impression that the current administration is seeking to remove certain (uncommitted, undeclared, unsympathetic o connected) people from some top posts and/or to ensconce key players of its choice in those important positions. Ostensibly, some people are scheduled to be replaced, perhaps by party stalwarts. The official reticence and nebulosity surrounding these circumstances only fertilise those beliefs. Of course, I hope that this is not the case but it sure looks like it to the average citizen.

I bought into Mr Golding's inaugural speech when he spoke eloquently of a "new paradigm". I would therefore be profoundly disappointed if there were truly an agenda of political discrimination afoot. I hope that the Chief Servant will come right out and say it ain't so. As Jamaicans, and therefore stakeholders in the affairs of this country, we deserve to know the true reasons for any suspicious occurrence. Superficial, second-hand explanations and weak excuses invite negative speculation and do no good.

Long-suffering supporters

Political spitefulness and nepotism are by no means unique to one party. Before the last general election, the workers of a certain large government-run enterprise felt obligated to ignore their personal political persuasions and vote a certain way in an effort to secure their jobs. And, another large concern (said to be overrun by PNP supporters) earned the ire of many who pressured the political hierarchy to clear them out and make way for their faithful and long-suffering supporters.

Perhaps some elected officials feel uncomfortable with and distrusting of those that worked closely with or appeared to grow professionally from association with their political rivals. I was surprised by a very disturbing whisper that a dedicated civil servant was being pressured by subordinates, co-workers and even the new boss (who should know much better) to make a verbal declaration of political affiliation. This has made me exceedingly uncomfortable since civil servants should never be approached or reproached on matters concerning their personal politics. Their posts are, by nature, apolitical and those individuals must be regarded as such.

Any jostling for positions, shuffling around of people and promise of contracts flies obscenely in the face of the promised commitment to political unity and the mending of fences. "Constructive engagement" cannot be confined to the activities of the two leaders; it must be manifest at every level of Government and society on a whole.

When people ask, "Are you one of us?" my response is always, "Us who?" If they enquire whether I am JLP or PNP, I tell them that I am a Jamaican. We must grow beyond the confining, discriminating pettiness of party politics or continue to succumb to its poison.