Manley’s Democratic Socialism in Jamaica

In 1974, the Peoples National Party declared that "Democratic Socialism" was the new political philosophy for Jamaica. This was dubbed "Communism" by some, partly because of the leader's close friendship with Fidel Castro of Cuba and partly because the P.N.P. was covertly supported by the Workers' Party of Jamaica (a Communist Party). 

Political challenges from the younger generation within the PNP, coupled with internal fighting, created a crisis for the PNP. Consequently, in November, Michael Manley, in conjunction with an advisory committee, announced their socialist programs in an effort to maintain party unity. Manley declared, “I want to spell out democratic socialist policy for Jamaica based on the premise that socialism is about equality. Equality did not mean uniformity, dictatorship of any kind, or equality in misery and poverty.

In 1979, the Jamaica Labour Party declared itself a "Social Democratic Party" in contradistinction to the P.N.P. 

Despite the problems democratic socialism is believed to have caused, according to the Jamaica Observer, in 2014 People’s National Party (PNP) said it will host a celebratory function on Thursday, November 20, to mark the 40th anniversary of the party’s reaffirmation of democratic socialism.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

Economic Contributions to Political Violence

As stated by Williams (2011) The Evolution of Political Violence in Jamaica 1940-1980, the first dilemma of the Manley regime was the failing economy, which was not immediately apparent due to his success in attaining more revenue for Jamaica via the increased bauxite levies.

Secondly, the PNP government had to contend with an aggressive U.S. government that was determined to contain or eliminate communism/socialism around the world. After the 1972 elections, Manley initiated a series of controversial reforms aimed at improving Jamaica’s economy through the nationalization of several public service industries, and the government’s conversion to democratic socialism. The problem with Manley’s reforms was that Jamaica lacked the funding to make the country economically independent of what he considered to be an exploitative capitalist market.

Manley exacerbated this situation by turning to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank for a financial bailout for Jamaica. This ultimately undermined his own government’s authority when the banks demanded the implementation of several austerity economic measures in return for granting the loans. The problem with the IMF and World Bank demands was that the banks wanted Manley to reduce civil service sector jobs and decrease government spending at a time when Jamaica suffered from an unemployment rate of 23 percent. These demands precipitated an economic crisis for the country in the late 1970s.

 Manley assumed that any economy which continued to be dependent on foreign sources would fail and Democratic Socialism was necessary to unite the people and change attitudes. However, Manley failed to address the role of the government and political parties in establishing a connection with the marginalized youths who were involved in gang violence.
Although the PNP claimed victory in the 1972 elections, the party suffered through an increase in post-election political violence as JLP supporters continued their efforts to destabilize the Manley regime. In 1973, violence in west Kingston claimed the lives of six prominent citizens, forcing Manley to comment on the problems of Seaga’s control over the west Kingston constituency. Manley claimed that “a one-party state had been built in Tivoli Gardens (Back O’ Wall), the center of Seaga’s west Kingston constituency.

As nationwide violence continued to rise from 1972 through 1973, Manley created the Gun Court, which “was a special court established to deal with any crime involving a firearm including illegal possession of a firearm or ammunition and was to try anyone charged with a firearms offense within seven days of arrest.”  The creation of both the Gun Court and the Home Guard under the Manley government was indicative of an increase in the use of hand guns to commit politically motivated violence. (Williams, 2011)

There were a lot of initial factors that precipitated the episodes of politically related violence. The nation leaders being the major causes of the problem over the years. Each political leader postulating that their initiative is the right and the best choice in the interest of the country. And whenever there are disagreements resort to violent measures. Political decisions affects the economy which ultimately has a devastating effect on citizens who also resort to violence to obtain money especially since job availability is also affected.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

1980’s Election Fever Happenings

It is a known fact that both political parties had deep-rooted associations with variant dons, notable among them 'Burryboy' [Michael Manley attended his funeral], 'Fedamop', 'Buckie Marshall', and 'Claudius Massop'. PNP and JLP Russian roulette-type rivalry culminated in 1980.

"After nine months of violence [February to October 1980, effectively the longest general election campaign in Jamaica] 844 [police official statistics] Jamaicans were killed on account of politics. Shockingly, almost 35 per cent of those killed were slaughtered in the constituency of West Central St Andrew, which had the JLP's Ferdinand Yap and the PNP's Carl 'Russian' Thompson as candidates." (Jamaica Observer, October 30, 2012).

According to the Jamaica Observer Columns article by Garfield Higgins (2015) entitled ‘Assassination plots and the birth of political violence in Jamaica’; going into Election Day in 1980, there were several tragic and eventful incidents. Among them:

Michael Manley's motorcade was fired on in May Pen: Manley was shaken but not stirred and did not suffer any bruises. (Gleaner, August 29, 2006).

"Tough-talking PNP candidate of St Andrew East Rural Roy McGann and his policeman bodyguard, Acting Corporal Errol White, were killed by policemen in Gordon Town Square a day before nominations opened." (Jamaica Observer, October 30, 2012).

When the dust cleared; the general election, held October 30, 1980, ended in victory for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which thumped the People's National Party (PNP) by 51 seats to nine, a record margin of victory by any party up to the time. (Jamaica Observer, October 30, 2012)

In these major elections many persons were affected not only citizens of Jamaica but political parties candidates. Election violence is a problem that continues to deteriorate Jamaica’s electoral process not only then but to this day.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

The Epitome Of Jamaica's Political Violence

According to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica there were two major elections in the 1970’s. Firstly, the seventh General Parliamentary Elections was held on February 29^th 1972. The PNP won 37 seats with 69.8% of the vote and the JLP took 16 seats with 30.2% of the votes. The Right Honorable Micheal Manley became the fourth Prime Minister.

Secondly, in 1976 the eighth General Parliamentary Elections were held. Constituencies were increased to 60 seats. The PNP took 47 seats with 78.3% of the votes while the JLP won 13 seats with 21.7% of the votes. The Rt. Hon. Micheal Manley again became Prime Minister. This election was held during a National State of Emergency which Manley stated was necessary as a result of increased violence in the country. however many analysts believed Manley used the power of the state for devastating strategic and propaganda effect against his political opponent.

As stated by Williams (2011) in The Evolution of Political Violence in Jamaica 1940-1980, the 1970s represents an era marred by brutal political violence and the government’s inability to resolve the economic crisis. Both the JLP and PNP’s participation in political tribalism and politically motivated violence brought the credibility of Jamaican democracy and political practice into question. The competition between the JLP’s Hugh Shearer and later Edward Seaga, and the PNP’s Michael Manley for power is of pivotal significance to the evolution of political violence in the 1970s. This era gave rise to Jamaica’s most destructive partisan politics as local gunmen used terror tactics to disrupt the general elections.

This political behaviour was accountable for the death of nearly a thousand people as both parties viciously contested the 1976 and 1980 general elections. During Manley’s term as prime minister, there were a number of incidents that implicated his government in the perpetration of violence. One of the most egregious was the so-called ‘Green Bay Massacre’ in 1978 in which JLP supporters were allegedly set up, ambushed, and killed by members of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF), presumed to be supporters of the government in power (People’s National Party). This incident served to portray the PNP as a force behind the violence and created distrust for the government among a growing percentage of the population.

So it was no longer viewed as a Jamaica Labour Party problem, fingers were now being pointed at both political parties. This issue of politically related violence is one that has remained over the years. And we see this being portrayed as recent as this year 2016, the year of Jamaica’s most recent General Election.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

Roots of Jamaican Political Violence

Jamaica Labor Party, headed by Alexander Bustamante used conservative nationalism and created the framework for political violence. This political structure was further corrupted and exploited by both political parties over the years, thus encouraging loyal grassroots supporters to engage in violence in order to maintain power and win elections.

According to Williams(2011) dissertation entitled The Evolution of Political Violence in Jamaica 1940-1980, Manley’s collusion in violence via party supporters was evident in his testimony before the Hearne Commission in 1949 when he stated that “actually what happened was when you got your representatives at trouble spots, the trouble stopped. Of course, at times things developed into a fight.” Based on Manley’s statement, it is evident that he was aware of violence via the defensive actions of loyal party supporters in the 1949 election. By 1960, gang violence became equal to the high death rate, rise in gun violence, and hypocritical politicians who refused to acknowledge their role in propagating violence.

By independence in 1962, Norman Manley claimed victory for advancing Jamaica from a colony to independence while reminiscing on his tenure in office, and claimed that the country’s infrastructure was stronger due to his economic programs. However, despite these achievements, political violence persisted. In the 1940s, both Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley though they are forefathers of modern Jamaican politics they engaged in political deception to win elections, and developed the framework for political violence in Jamaica.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

A Look at Digital Code of Ethics

In this constantly improving technology era there is likely to be widespread support for the idea of a digital code of ethics. This is based on concerns over electronic intrusion. Scenario:

“I took a call at five o’clock this morning,” Supt Richard Cooper told me last week. “A girl had texted her friend to say she’d taken an overdose. She couldn’t be found.” It is now Cooper’s job to decide whether Gloucestershire police should ask telephone and internet companies for customer records that, in this case, could save a life. 

Detectives in Gloucestershire accept that intrusive powers should be used no more than necessary. But they do not think these tools should be confined to serious cases. “If someone has stolen your bike and you see it advertised online with a mobile number to call, you expect us to find it,” one said. Senior officers believe ethical problems arising from their powers to access communication data are likely to become more acute as we rely ever more on electronic communication. (Rozenberg, 2015),

According to an article in the guardian by Joshua Rozenberg (2015), the police can obtain communication data under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, known as Ripa. Such data may provide details of where, when and for how long a phone or a computer has been used but not the contents of a phone or email. But then there is concern from the public regarding invasion of privacy.

In countries such as Jamaica, the police often visit telecommunication companies and obtain information on suspects, although the cry about invasion of privacy is still prominent. An example of this was portrayed in the Jamaican highly publicized case involving popular entertainer Adijah “Vybz Kartel” Palmer. In the court proceedings a witness from telecoms company Digicel testified that none of the 40 telephone numbers for which the police requested customer information was “ascribed” to Vybz Kartel and his four co-accused.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

Ethical Standards in Military (Soldiers)

Soldiers are often viewed as being the most disciplined and well respected criminal justice profession. In order to maintain this view there ethical standards that one must follow.

According to the Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, the military has a code of ethics that are referred to as core values and are drilled into every new recruit. Especially as public affairs professionals, they have to hold themselves and all service members to high ethical standards.

As Soldiers, the public expects them to be truthful, honest, and professional. If they do not avoid conflicts of interest they can lose the public's' trust, and bring shame to themselves, their career field, and overall service to the country. Examples of conflict faced by soldiers include: bribery which is offering, promising, demanding, seeking, receiving, accepting, or agreeing to receive anything of value to influence any official act. And compensation from other sources which refers to a task or job performed outside normal working hours does not necessarily allow employees to accept payment for performing it. If the undertaking is part of one's official duties, pay for its performance may not be accepted from any other source regardless of when it was performed.

Military leaders while highlighting soldiers' ethical dilemmas stated that in the war in Iraq and war on terrorism, it is often unclear to military leaders who "the enemy" is, creating such ethical dilemmas as whether to bomb threatening targets even though it may harm civilians or use torture tactics to get people to reveal enemy secrets. (Dittmann, 2005) This often comes down to the soldiers using their discretion or resorting to the principle of utilitarianism which supports an act if it benefits the majority of persons.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

Corruption -> Honesty- Ethics

As defined by Transparency International, ‘Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain’.

Corruption in criminal justice professions is a common topic in almost every country. Law enforcement and military personnel are often put into positions where they are offered large payoffs to ignore illegal conduct. Throughout history, police officers have bought their positions or promotions, sold protection and ignore violations of the law for money.

In Jamaica one might be very familiar with the term, “Left or Write?” meaning in certain situations such as road traffic violations, the officer is asking the offender is willing to leave him/ her some money to not issue him (offender) with a ticket.

There are a number of reasons why the field of policing seems to be very susceptible to bribery and other forms of corruption the main one being the low pay officers receive in relation to responsibilities and work hours.

SUGGESTION FOR CONTROLLING POLICE CORRUPTION:

1. 1.     The first step should be awareness through education. With the help of education we can reduce corruption. According to a survey conducted by India today the least corrupt state is Kerala, the reason being that in Kerala literacy rate is highest in India. So we can see how education effects education. This suggests that if we are educated, we can understand our rights well as well as duties.
2. 2.      Establishment of firm codes of conduct for police officers, with strong penalties for non-compliance.
3. 3.      Development of better selection processes and training for police at all levels, with selection based on merit.
4. 4.      Development of international agreements whereby members of organized crime and other criminal elements cannot find a safe haven for their corrupt activities. (Peter,2000).

Systematic change in government processes. If the members of the governing body are government officials, there will certainly be less reports of the criminal cases. Police department is not safe from this ailment. We need to change such assumption through police corruption is formed.

Please feel free to share your views and comments.

A Look into Forensic Ethics

The field of forensic science is essential to the criminal justice system. Forensic personnel are responsible for the collection, preservation, analysis, and interpretation of evidence and so these personnel must pay close attention to detail during these processes. If evidence is mishandled, manipulated, or misinterpreted it can potentially destroy a case and/or the lives of all individuals involved.

As i have learnt in many of my forensic courses, "Every contact leaves a trace" (Locard's Exchange Principle).

 For that reason it is vital that forensic personnel are not only properly trained and educated, but they must also be of good moral and ethical character. Many cases have been tainted due to unethical behavior; more must be done in order to prevent unethical behavior from taking place in the field of forensic science. (Refuge, 2011)

The identification, collection, and preservation of any piece of forensic evidence will ultimately involve numerous individuals. At any step within the process, evidence can be deliberately or accidentally mishandled hence it is important to maintain proper chain of custody.

This risk begins at the scene of the crime, where there is the possibility of evidence planting, destruction, or mishandling. After the scene has been processed, evidence is then sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis. Here, it can be subjected to contamination through poor testing methods, excess consumption, mislabeling, and even loss or destruction. After the analysis has been performed, those analyzing the evidence must then report on their findings accurately and honestly.

In the courtroom forensic personnel are often called upon to provide expert witness testimony in regards to their specialty (Van & Saks 1983). In some cases the expert testimony given by forensic personnel have a lot of weight in regards to the outcome of the case (Van & Saks 1983). For that reason it is vital that the expert witness (forensic scientist) be 100% qualified and be of good ethical and moral character (Hart, 2004). And as such, they have an obligation not to mislead the jury, defense, or the state when testifying before the court, or when preparing their reports relating to their analyses of forensic evidence.

While there exists no single ethical code that applies to all disciplines of forensic science, the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) Code of Ethics requires each certified member ensure that any opinions rendered with regard to their analyses are done so “only to the extent justified” by the evidence in question, and to also ensure that the testimony given is presented “in a clear, straightforward manner” that in no way misrepresents or extends “themselves beyond their field of competence.” Testimony should be given “in such a manner so that the results are not misinterpreted.” (ABC, 2010)

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

Correctional Officers and Prison Staff Ethical Issues

Though inmates may lack a solid moral fiber, the prison is a site of numerous ethical issues for guards, lawmakers and officials who run correctional systems.

Except in the rare cases of innocence, convicts are in jail because they did something bad and or wrong. In many cases, they have stolen, killed, or caused other harm to people and society. Punishing prisoners by locking them up in an extremely unpleasant place for a long time aims to deter potential criminals from perpetrating similar deeds. However, at the same time, poor and unsafe conditions harden their anti-social instincts, making it difficult for them to re-enter society after release. To make them productive citizens, educational and vocational training can help as well as a reasonable guarantee of protection against brutality from guards and other prisoners.

Prison guards face numerous ethical dilemmas on the job. For example, well-connected prisoners have many opportunities to bribe them for better treatment. Other inmates may be abusive to guards for no reason. In either case, the guard must treat prisoners equally. They must enforce prison rules firmly and consistently. Not only does this policy ensure smooth prison administration, it provides an ethical model for prisoners to follow.

According to An Ethical Dilemma in Corrections by Albert De Amicis (2005), the problem of sexual misconduct committed by male correctional officers on female prisoners is a problem that has reached epidemic proportions throughout the nation. The corrections profession is considered to be one of the most challenging careers in existence today.

Why? You might ask.

 This is because a normal day consists of dealing with some of the most difficult, violent, and unruly criminals locked behind bars. Whether correctional staff work in large, medium, or small in facilities, there is one common factor. Personnel, by their position and authority, are empowered to control the environment at their correctional facility. When a staff member falls prey to an inmate who manipulated him or her into an indiscretion, this breaches the security network. This break can result in injury or death of staff/inmates/visitors, escape, and/or introduction of contraband (Cornelius 2001, p.175).

Although a difficult profession the ethical standards are important and must be maintained such as rendering professional service to the justice system and the community at large in effecting the social adjustment of the offender. And the upholding of the law with dignity and integrity displaying an awareness of responsibility to offenders while recognizing the right of the public to be safeguarded from criminal activity.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

Independent Commission of Investigation (INDECOM) Focus on Ethics

Police brutality!!! Wi waah justice! Him neva do nut’n! him innocent and dem just kill him fi nut’n!

Sounds familiar?

Here in Jamaica cases of police misconduct is quite common and we often see and hear reports of it on our daily news.  This issue of police misconduct is a problem that plagues our society.

The rate of lethal police shootings in Jamaica is one of the highest in the world. An average of 140 people per annum have been shot and killed, according to official statistics, for the last ten years, in a country whose population is only 2.6 million. Police accounts of victim-initiated "shoot-outs" continue to be disputed in many cases by witness accounts and contradicted by forensic evidence.

 There is an unparalleled level of police shootings in Jamaica, so says Baroness Nuala O’Loan, a member of the United Kingdom House of Lords and a former police ombudsman of Northern Ireland while speaking at an open day staged by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) on, August 16 at the Old Hospital Park, in Montego Bay, St. James as seen in an article from the North Coast Times Jamaica in August 2013. The article also stated that statistics now show that between January and June of this year; 2013 there was 147 fatal shootings by police.

The Independent Commission of Investigations is an organization created to take on impartial investigations concerning actions by members of the Security Forces and other agents of the State that result in death or injury to persons or the abuse of the rights of persons; and for connected matters. The Commission took over from the Police Public Complaints Authority on August 16, 2010 and the scope of its operations is outlined in the Independent Commission of Investigations Act.

As stated in a Jamaica Observer editorial, the issue of loyalty among squad members, in particular, is a feature of most police departments worldwide. In some jurisdictions, it is known as the ‘Blue Code of Silence’ or the ‘Blue shield’. Here in Jamaica it is labelled it the ‘Squaddie Mentality’. Basically it is an unwritten agreement among cops not to report crimes, misconduct or mistakes committed by their colleagues. (Jamaica Observer Editorial, June 12, 2012) The editorial also stated that Mr. Terrence Williams and his team at the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) in his quarterly report to the Legislature stated that, “It is striking that in all our current cases, no member of the security forces implicates themselves or their colleagues in misconduct. Perhaps an explanation may be the ease with which agents of the state may collude before giving a statement.”

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

The Most Honourable Michael Manley- The Political Hostilities of the Manley Era-1970s

According to The People's National Party Facebook page today, March 6, 2016 marks nineteen years since the death of The Most Honourable Michael Manley, former Prime Minister and leader of the People's National Party at the age of 72. The Facebook page went on to state that Comrade Michael "Joshua" Manley legacy lives on. He lived a life of passion for people, progress, equality and Justice.

Focusing directly on the Manley Era, there was extensive conflict in relation to politics in Jamaica. According to michaelmanley.org Manley entered representational politics in the 1967 general election, winning the Central Kingston constituency. After his father’s retirement, he comfortably won the People’s National Party (PNP) contest for party leadership. He was consequently appointed Leader of the Opposition. Manley zeroed in on the failings of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration, which had held the reins since independence in 1962. He inveighed against social injustice and inequality, which, he claimed, pervaded Jamaica.

Economic conditions in Jamaica deteriorated in the 1970s. Amid accusations of destabilization by the CIA, the IMF, foreign investors, the US media and opposition, politically motivated violence escalated, worsening an already problematic situation. Crime and violence was rampant. In June 1976 Mr Manley, in response to popular demand, declared a state of emergency during which there was some curtailment of civil liberties, including detention of scores of alleged troublemakers.

But how much do we know about political hostilities? Is this the point in time that political violence in Jamaica began?

Please feel free to comment and share your views and what you know in relation to this.

Prosecuting Attorney's Ethical Misconduct

Prosecuting attorneys have ethical principles to maintain or a defendant might be punished for a crime he or she did not commit. As a prosecuting attorney, it is your ethical responsibility to provide truthful, accurate testimony and supportive evidence to justify your claims. If the lawyer knows that evidence was tampered with; an expert witness has strong biases that might affect the case or an eye witness account is not error-free, you should not present the evidence as proof against a defendant. Ethically, it is a prosecuting attorney’s duty to present complete facts, not partial facts, fiction or biased judgments as part of the case against a defendant.

Professional misconduct by prosecuting attorneys is not a new issue Jamaica. According to The Gleaner article written by Daraine Luton, entitled, “Bad Lawyers - More Than 200 Complaints against Attorneys Last Year”; approximately 216 complaints were made against attorneys-at-law by members of the public to the General Legal Council (GLC) in the year 2011-2012. This article also highlighted a case in which attorney, Haughton-Cardenas was found guilty of professional misconduct for her failure to pay over the sum of $2.6 million received by her for the complainant in a suit in which she acted for the complainant against Northern Caribbean University for wrongful dismissal and defamation. The defendant paid to Haughton-Cardenas the sum of $2.6 million by cheque dated 18th April, 2008, which was lodged on April 22, 2008. Haughton failed to pay over the sum collected or any part thereof as she was required to do, and she failed to account to the complainant for her money when she was reasonably required to do so in breach of Canon VII (b) of the Canons of Professional Ethics Rules.

As I have seen in many of these cases relating to ethical misconduct of attorneys, there is a failure to pay over money or failure to provide clients with all information as to the progress of their case. As representatives of clients, an officer of law and citizen they are expected to maintain a certain level of “good” conduct in society.  Simply put, though they don’t on numerous occasions attorneys are persons who should always uphold justice as they are a part of the face of justice.

Please feel free to comment and share your views. 

Election Fever

On this day, Wednesday February 24, 2016 only a few minutes until the day of Jamaica's General election and Jamaicans are in full election mode. 

For many youths this will be their first time voting, and they are extremely excited and proud to be getting the chance to exercise their democratic rights. Their decisions about who to vote for; where to put the ‘X’ came down to  a variety of factors; whether it be whose promises were less outrageous, realistic and achievable; or  who promise prosperity,  progress, job opportunities, tax removal, an overall better Jamaica. However many persons decision are also based on which party their family or friends belong to i.e. how they are socialized. As many Jamaicans would say, “mi a bawn labourite” or “mi a PNP from mi eye deh a mi knee” expressing their devotion to their party of choice.

According to Roger Brown in his article entitled’ “Jamaica 2016 election: Conundrum or crossroads?” in the Jamaica Observer, for over a generation, the PNP has had an unbreakable electoral lease on Jamaica House, save for a recent period when they briefly lost the key; having found it, they almost lost it again. Staring down the barrel of international bankruptcy, they acceded to punitive IMF terms, picked up the tax axe, and started hacking; it was hard work, but they saved the house… only problem is that the lease is up for renewal yet again.

Brown went on to add that in 1989, when the modern lease began, the J$/US$ exchange rate was $5.50 to US$1; when the lease expires next week, the J$/US$ exchange rate will be apx $122:1 with lease payments devaluing by a staggering 2,000 per cent over 27 years, the owners of the House (ie, Jamaicans), appear to have been serially shafted.

Neither the PNP nor the JLP embrace change easily; but whoever wins tomorrow is morally bound to tell the nation some hard truths and chart a course much different and improved than the one sailed for the past generation that only led to debt, devaluation, and distress.

So as the clock ticks we await the answer to the questions will Jamaica remain afloat in this restless sea, or be guided to a safe dock? Will it be the Green Tide or the Orange Wave that will return? Truth be told, it doesn’t matter a great deal: Jamaica’s true test comes not on the Election Day, but in the days thereafter. 

For me whether it is the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) or the opposing; Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), "Power" or "Shower" that forms the next Government, my only hope is that the administration places great emphasis on matters such as, education, agriculture, health care, national security, and maintaining and improving the justice system so that there will be an opportunity to form a better Jamaica. one in which we can  all be proud to live.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

Jamaica Political System Development cont'd

As stated by the Nations Encyclopedia, since earning its independence from England in 1962, Jamaica has been governed alternately by the two major political parties, the left-leaning People's National Party (PNP) and the more conservative, pro-business Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). These two parties have often offered conflicting programs for managing the economy and have sometimes resorted to violence in opposing each other. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, both parties aligned themselves with rival gun gangs and fought their political battles in the streets as well as at the ballot box. The taint of political violence has touched nearly every election in Jamaican history and I have witnessed this up to this day in the year 2016. Isn't that so?

From 1972 to 1980 the PNP, under Prime Minister Michael Manley, adopted democratic socialism as its ruling platform and instituted state control over economic activities. The PNP had little success, as the widespread prosperity of the 1960s gave way to high inflation, unemployment, and great civil unrest and violence. During the 1970s Jamaica became a debtor nation; borrowing money from institutions and has remained so ever since as I am sure we see this being the case to this day. The more conservative JLP won control of the government in 1980 and maintained power until 1989. This pro-business party, led by Edward Seaga, withdrew state control from many industries and encouraged closer economic ties with the United States. Such controls were encouraged, even demanded, as a condition of loans made by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Under Seaga, the economy recovered some of its strength. Nevertheless, Seaga's implementation of austerity measures demanded by the IMF as part of Jamaica's debt maintenance eroded his popularity, and in 1989 the PNP returned to power, again under the leadership of Manley. After Manley's retirement in 1992, Percival J. Patterson (PJ) assumed the position of prime minister and led the party to an unprecedented third consecutive victory in the 1997 elections. (Nations Encyclopedia, Politics Government and Taxation)

I am sure many of us can recall the fourteenth General Parliamentary Elections which were held on October 16, 2002. The PNP won 34 seats with 51.6% of the votes while the JLP won 26 seats with 46.9% of the votes. The Most Hon. P.J. Patterson was returned as Prime Minister for a historic third time and PNP a historic fourth term. In 2007 out of four PNP presidential aspirants. Portia Simpson Miller was named party president. It was the first time that a woman was elected to the leadership of a major political party in Jamaica. On March 31, Simpson Miller, officially entered the record books as Jamaica’s first female prime minister.

Then, the fifteenth General Parliamentary Elections were held September 3, 2007. The JLP won 32 seats with 49.98% of the votes while PNP won 28 seats with 49.35% of the votes. The Hon. Bruce Golding of the Jamaica Labour Party became Jamaica’s eighth Prime Minister since Independence. (Electoral Commission of Jamaica, 2016) This 2007 general election in Jamaica went down as one of the closest in the nation's history. The close victory triggered immediate controversy, as Prime Minister and PNP President Portia Simpson Miller refused to concede, stating that "the election is too close to call".  The Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) defied the prophets to achieve its first general election win in 18 years.

Andrew Michael Holness succeeded Bruce Golding as both leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and Prime Minister on 23 October 2011, making him the ninth person to hold this office. As the youngest person to become Prime Minister in Jamaica many persons were excited and wanted to know what he is capable of. On 5 December 2011, Holness called the next election for 29 December 2011. But on 29 December 2011, the JLP lost at the polls to the People's National Party, which gained a large majority of 42 to the JLP's 21 parliamentary seats. 

In the current year, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and leader of the Peoples National Party announced the date of the general election on 31 January 2016 as February 25, 2016. Simpson Miller set her party election machinery in motion before her premier political rival, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness, announced an election "roll call". 

And so here lies the question on everyone's mind and lips, who will triumph this time around?

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

The Development of Jamaica’s Political System

In this year and month (February 25, 2016) of a general election a close look into the development of Jamaica’s political system throughout history is rather important. Especially because a number of us were not around in these years or were not old enough or understand what this whole notion of politics is about.

Beginning in 1970, the Jamaica Labour Party's identification with domestic and foreign business interests became increasingly evident. After Norman Manley died in 1969, his son Michael, a Third World-oriented social democrat, succeeded him as People’s National Party leader and began to revive the party's socialist heritage.

The 1972 election was a major landmark in Jamaica’s history, for the People’s National Party under the leadership of Michael Manley was swept into power after ten years of JLP domination. The PNP won the election with the largest majority in the nation’s history, capturing thirty-seven seats to the JLP’s sixteen. The political campaign was straightforward and generally non-violent, although there were numerous clashes between rival campaigning rallies throughout Jamaica. (Floyd 146).

In 1974, Edward Seaga succeeded Hugh Shearer as JLP leader and began playing an active role as leader of the opposition (1974-80). Seaga and Manley continued the traditional JLP-PNP leadership rivalry in the 1970s, but on a far more bitter and intense level than had Bustamante and Norman Manley. Born in Boston in 1930 of Jamaican parents of Syrian and Scottish origin, Seaga was educated at Wolmer's Boys School in Kingston and at Harvard University. He represented Denham Town, one of the poorest and blackest constituencies of West Kingston, which regularly gave 95 percent of its vote to the JLP.

The December 1976 elections witnessed major realignments in class voting for the two parties, as well as unprecedented political violence and division on ethical and policy issues. The support of manual wage laborers and the unemployed resulted in another sweeping victory in the elections for the PNP. The PNP was also aided by the lowering of the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen. Despite losing a substantial number of votes among the upper-middle and upper classes as well as among white-collar employees, the PNP retained majority support among these sectors.

 The PNP's dominant position in politics in the 1970s was reinforced on March 8, 1977, when the party won 237 out of 269 municipal seats in local government elections in which 58 percent of the electorate participated. By mid-term, however, internal PNP infighting between left-wingers and moderates had intensified and JLP opposition had escalated. Support for the PNP declined considerably as the public became increasingly concerned over the PNP's alliance with the communist Workers Party of Jamaica (WPJ), as well as growing unemployment, crime and other violence, internal party divisions, mismanagement of the government, and the government's close ties to Cuba.

Please feel free to comment and share your views.

Ethical Issues of Judges--Are Judges judged?

Judges resolve disputes between people, and interpret and apply the law by which we live. Through that process, they define our rights and responsibilities, determine the distribution of vast amounts of public and private resources, and direct the actions of officials in other branches of government. Ethics might be more significant to judges than any other criminal justice practitioner because a judge must interpret the law honestly and independently without personal feelings, religious values or past experiences. According to the State of Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline, judges who serve in Nevada must honor and obey five rules of ethics, including impartiality, no deviance from the law, non-biased decision making, no involvement with special interest groups in or out of the courtroom and participation in approved campaigning strategies.

For many years the judiciary has been guided by principles: the commitment to uphold the law and to do so in an impartial and unbiased manner. These fundamental principles are affirmed in the Oaths of Office that are required of judges. An example of the Oath required is that of the English Judiciary:

“I do swear that I will well and truly serve our sovereign... and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of this realm, without fear or favour, affection or ill will…” (MacKay, 1995)

Despite the affirmation of these principles, they were not always adhered to as I would have heard of many instances in Jamaica in which these ethical guidelines are not followed. Judges instead filter in their personal experiences and feelings when making a judgment. For example a female judge in a case of child support being extremely harsh towards a father who fails to care for his child because her (the judge) father did not care for her as a child either.

Regardless of changes and the easing of cultural and professional restrictions on judges’ personal lives, judges must still take care not to become complacent about their ethical and professional responsibilities. In exercising such restraint, judges are bound to place some restrictions on their personal and professional activities. They must accept the fact that their chosen profession, which is so vital to society, demands their wholehearted and complete efforts to make their judicial roles their highest priority, regardless of the necessary personal sacrifices that this might require.

Please feel free to comment or share your views.

                                                                                  

Police Ethical Issues cont'

 It is unethical for a police officer to threaten, assault or badger an offender to get a confession or to make an arrest. A police officer has an ethical responsibility to make non-biased, non-discriminatory, law-abiding and justifiable judgment calls to protect innocent citizens. (Tucker, 2016). So police officers are faced with ethical issues on a daily basis in all their interactions with the public. And so it is especially important for them to know or can relate to what is ethically right or wrong. Any action that is consider wrong is referred to as police misconduct.

Police brutality is a form of police misconduct in which officers engage in an excessive use of force. In Jamaica this form of misconduct is of major concern. Police officers are to use force only when necessary and only to the extent required for the performance of their duty. However, it includes, unjustified shootings, severe beatings, fatal choking, and overall rough treatment (Human Rights Watch 1998; Article 3 of the U.N. Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officers). The most obvious form of police brutality is physical which involves the use of pain holds, batons, pepper spray and guns but it can also take the form of verbal abuse or forms of psychological intimidation.

Almost every night on the news in Jamaica, I have seen reports of shooting by the police under questionable circumstances. In these reports it is always expected that there will be two opposing narratives, one given by the police that says the incident was a shootout and the other by the residents claiming it to be murder in cold blood as the person killed was innocent of any form of wrongdoing. Nothing seems to grip the attention of the public more than the accounts of police officers overextending their legal authority by using excessive force to either effect an arrest of or to coerce information from individuals they interact with during the course of their duties. (Introduction to Policing, Police Misconduct chap 9) For this reason it is rather important for police officers to behave in an ethical manner to live up to the expectations of the citizens they serve.

Please feel free to comment or share your views.