Mary Jane (not her real name) became a born-again Christian many years ago. She was, therefore, in a bind when her downtown arcade neighbour refused to honour a long-standing and substantial debt to her and several others. Previously, Mary would have 'raced her up' and probably 'mashed her down' for her egregious transgression but, having changed her life, she had to find another way out of her predicament.

Mary knew that the police couldn't help her; she would have to sue for the money (a very expensive, lengthy and often frustrating process). She knew that her Member of Parliament would advise likewise. Mary decided to go to her 'government' to set things right ... she went straight to the 'president' for justice. The very next day, two young men approached the neighbour, spoke quietly with her and all debts were paid in very short order.

There are innumerable anecdotes of stolen goods being returned, disputes being settled, upstarts being put under manners, violence being averted or quelled, the needy being taken care of. In general, the 'president' maintains calm and order in a community prone to extreme violence and chaos.

Obviously, such power, control and magnanimity come at a price - someone, somewhere has to pay - hence his enigmatic persona, the talk of his being a don, questions of income source and the recent request for him to be extradited to the United States to answer charges of arms and drugs trafficking.

President Lincoln's famous Gettysburg address (November 19, 1863) began with "Four score and seven years ago ..." and ended (in just over two minutes) with, "... government of the people, by the people, for the people". Of course, one of our local 'leaders' - 'President Dudus' was not elected to his elevated 'office' but he was empowered by politicians and supported by the people.

Area leaders

The somewhat euphemistic term 'area leader' was assigned to individuals entrusted and empowered by politicians in their bid to liaise with and control dependent constituents; to defend against interlopers and invaders. They are, therefore, of the people, accepted by the people and act for the people (in their area).

At the inner-city/garrison level, politics has limited sustainable, long-term plans for real development or true independence. The constituents in depressed communities often need or seek assistance for something that involves a handout. The pay-off for the politician is the certainty of votes. At the uptown level, the symbiotic relationship between politicians and the constituents involves contributions and votes and the expectation of reciprocal favours or the instigation of policies favourable to the (financial and social) development of the contributors. These constituents are independent and have no need of an 'area leader'/don/whatever.

Because 'the president' is so necessary to his community, it would take a sin of epic proportions, a betrayal of trust or a variance with the 'morals' of that society (the kind that Donald 'Zekes' Phipps committed) for him to lose favour with and support from his beneficiaries. Nobody else - no upstanding citizen, no businessperson, no security force personnel, no member of Parliament, no prime minister and no governor general wields such influence and power in those communities. The fear of violence, economic loss and human suffering, should 'the president' be extradited and imprisoned abroad, is very real.

Social schism

Whether 'the president' is found to be innocent or not, this situation highlights the fact that consecutive governments have tacitly abdicated much of their responsibilities to our less-fortunate and instead used them to make up their base support - the resultant social schism is having devastating effects on us all.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.