Commentary

It is becoming clear that the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) believes Jamaica's crime problem emanates from one source - Tivoli Gardens, the ruling JLP's enclave in western Kingston. What is not clear is whether this is an old conviction or new opportunism.

Based on the recent platform ranting of Peter Bunting, the party's general secretary and shadow spokesman on national security, contrary to the opinion of the security forces, the recent dip in murders came about because of the operations in Tivoli Gardens, which effectively shut down that garrison. Should the country accept or reject this questionable piece of 'evidence' from Mr Bunting? And is this an indication of the kind of partisan approach Mr Bunting would take to the job of minister of national security?

We submit that this is straightforward hypocrisy on the part of the successful investment banker-turned-politician, on realising that his party's abstention vote was seen by the majority as no more than political gimmickry masquerading as human-rights concern. A lesson that Mr Bunting should heed, in this his second round at politics, is that people find hypocrisy repulsive because of its attempt to make fools of them.

Right now, the anti-crime fervour among Jamaicans is at its highest. Opinion polls have confirmed that the majority wanted to see the state of emergency continue and extended to other parts of the country. What we need at this time is a principled stance to show the criminals that we are united and it is them against the rest of us law-abiding citizens.

Ugly, flawed politics

For years, most of them under the PNP, we have struggled with this crime problem. A succession of ministers, a string of commissioners of police, establishment of crime squads, recruitment of experts have all done little to reverse the trend of murder and mayhem. We saw some glimmer of hope during the recent state of emergency when murders went on the decline.

Then comes the time for the state of emergency to be extended, and we saw on display all that was ugly and flawed about our politics. With the voting advantage on their side, the Opposition proposed a 15-day extension instead of the 30 days being sought by the security forces. People like Mr. Bunting would have us go back to the days of 'I win', 'You lose' in the name of scoring political points and doing maximum damage to the other side.

What is clear now is that if the members of the House of Representatives had consulted with their constituents they would have voted for an extension, because opinion polls have confirmed an overwhelming support for its continuation.

It is true that politicians believe in their own perfection and they are given to high moral rhetoric and grandiose judgements. It is also a fact their actions often indicate how terrible they are at interpreting the public mood. It is obvious that in the recent abstention against continuing the state of emergency the PNP was serving only the interest of the minority.

Mr Bunting's melodramatic defence of the PNP's action missed the mark. He squandered an opportunity to be thought of as one who is sincere and has the interest of the majority; instead, he is more likely to be judged as a hypocrite.

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