Delroy ChuckTHE MORAL fibre of our society is fast disappearing. Bit by bit, the moral bond, the shared value system and mutual trust that bind and strengthen are eroded, undermined and shattered. We are a people who have lost trust and faith in one another, in our leaders and in our institutions of state. Jamaica seems to move from crisis to crisis, to and from nine-day wonders and, if the truth be admitted, along a path of steady moral decline.
Why is the Jamaican society disintegrating so ominously? I contend that nowadays no one takes responsibility when things go wrong, and so things continue to fall apart. Wrongdoings and downright corruption are explained away on the altar of expediency. The buck stops nowhere, as no one is in charge or accepts blame. When the INTEC Fund is loosely dispersed and lost, it is deemed youthful exuberance. When billions of dollars are lost on Operation PRIDE projects, the Rattray Report questions the findings of the Angus Report, which conveniently facilitates ministerial exoneration, and before long, if we are not careful, everybody will be exonerated. Commissions of Inquiries are set up to investigate injustice and wrongdoings but who have been found blameworthy or prosecuted for wrongdoing? Who can we trust to take action when things go wrong, and correctly send the right signal that wrongdoings will not be tolerated? Are there no men of honour who can stand up for what is right and just?
Now, Minister Omar Davies arrogantly admits fiscal imprudence and acknowledges he has to correct a problem, a fiscal problem created by overspending and a huge budget deficit. Here is a Minister entrusted with the constitutional duty to protect the national purse, yet from his own admission he allowed overspending, as his party was on route to a fourth term. And now that the party has reached its objective, the rest of the country will be forced to fall in line to correct the problem created or tolerated by the Minister for partisan interest. What arrogance! Amazingly, the Prime Minister fails to appreciate the inappropriateness and admission of wrongdoing by Minister Davies and, brusquely, ignores criticisms and calls for his resignation by expressing full support and confidence in him. Well, where does that leave us?
In the Westminster model of parliamentary government, trust and honour are the very pillars of good governance. The written and unwritten rules and conventions demand at least an offer of resignation by those who occupy the corridors of power whenever there is wrongdoing, or even the taint of wrongdoing. No minister of government who spoke so loosely and without restraint, as Minister Davies did, would retain his Cabinet post in any decent and responsible government anywhere.
For Minister Davies to call members of the Jamaica Employers Federation thieves is simply unforgivable, yet these members are satisfied with an apology, and most if not all are happy to move on and forget the Minister said anything. Then, in the context of the Westminster system of governance, the Leader of the Opposition issues a most appropriate statement, outlining the many allegations of corruption and mismanagement, and expressing his party's intention to oppose and, within the law, remove the government, which means constitutionally, yet detractors have latched onto the phrase 'bring down the government' to give the impression of unlawful behaviour, revolt or unconstitutional means. In fact, some foolhardy commentators have even conspired to leave the impression that Mr. Seaga meant 'bring down the country' instead of the phrase he actually used.
Well, in the Westminster system of governance, in which General Elections can be called at anytime within a constitutional period, it is not only the right but the duty of an Opposition to remove a government that has lost moral authority and also its duty to protect the State from a corrupt government by seeking to bring it down. The role of an Opposition has to be a strident one and be ever ready and willing to offer better government at anytime. In fact, what does an Opposition do in the face of unfolding wrongdoing, rampant corruption and gross injustices everywhere? Is it the role of an Opposition simply to be the check and balance of a government that is slowly sinking the country, provide solutions for intractable problems when in truth the government is the problem, and merely prepare to be the alternative government when the right time comes?
It is time Jamaicans wake up and understand that this is a government, which by its own action and admission, cannot be trusted. When Minister Davies boldly admits that he acted in the party's interest instead of protecting the national interest, he has admitted opening the door to serve partisan interests, and we will never know when that door is closed. How do we ever know when a minister or the government takes any action - makes appointments, enters into contractual arrangements, sets up commission of inquiries or fails to effectively prosecute crimes, corruption and other wrongdoings - that such actions are not to promote partisan political interest, to the detriment of the national good?
The whole affair surrounding Dr. Davies' intemperate and arrogant outburst has served only to undermine good governance, and especially governance within our parliamentary system of governance. Dr. Davies could have restored some trust and honour by at least offering to resign.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at delchuck@hotmail.com.
