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'We independent now'
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Tuesday | September 4, 2007
Yesterday, Jamaica voted for a new administration in its 45th year of political independence and my mind went back to a statement made by a Ghanaian tour guide, Victor, who showed us, with pride, the Supreme Court of Ghana.
One Jamaican, who was a member of the delegation to the historic July 2007 Baptist World Alliance conference in Accra, naturally expected that there was another court higher than the Supreme Court of Ghana. Victor could not understand what we were talking about. So we explained and asked whether they took their cases to the Privy Council in England, to which he quickly retorted, "No. We independent now."
For Victor, and apparently the other Ghanaians, having one's final court of appeal resident in one's country was a symbol of independence. Unfortunately, Jamaica has not yet seen the connection between Independence and having the final Court of Appeal in Jamaica.
Independent judiciary system
Ghana got its Independence from Britain in 1957, five years before Jamaica. And, perhaps, founding father Kwame Nkrumah influenced the Jamaican Independence movement.
However, one wonders why Jamaica did not follow the Ghanaian route and have sovereignty over its judiciary and justice system. It is an affront to Jamaicans and an embarrassment to Jamaica that,after 45 years, it is still felt that we cannot manage our own justice system.
This new administration needs to move full speed ahead and have an independent judiciary system. We need this change.
I have long felt that the Jamaican Court of Appeal should be the final court. However, if we cannot as a people agree to have confidence in a Caribbean Court of Justice as our final court, what chance is there that the final court will one day reside in Jamaica?
It should hurt our national psyche that the Jamaican Justice Reform Task Force outlined 12 serious shortcomings within the justice system. As independent people, we can produce a better justice system. Let us work towards eliminating these 12 deficiencies in less than two years.
Continue poverty alleviation
In addition, the new administration needs to realise that as an independent people, there will be no handouts from foreign governments and agencies. We will have to earn our way out of poverty and dependence. We have to relate respectfully to others as equals. It is not socialist rhetoric to remind Jamaicans that, in 2006, an article in a leading British newspaper highlighted how donor governments and agencies benefit significantly from giving aid, at the expense of those receiving such aid.
On the local economic front, we need to continue with the poverty alleviation strategies as we also create more and better jobs. The emphasis must be on empowerment rather than a freeness mentality. The vulnerable, widows, orphans, etc., must be protected through a government safety net. However, Jamaicans who work hard and provide important goods and services need better pay. Many hard workers in the hotel industry, fast-food chains, janitorial services, security guards and store clerks get abysmal salaries. I know of persons who received below minimum wage and said nothing, apparently for fear of losing their jobs.
These industries that do not pay an adequate salary suddenly find millions to donate to political parties, gospel concerts andsporting events. We need to change that course and empower persons and pay workers better wages.
Hopefully, this new administration will recognise our independence and produce a better and independent justice system and have an economic model that produces jobs and better-paying jobs, while helping the most vulnerable.
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