The assassination of JUTC Chairman Douglas Chambers on Friday June 27, 2008 at the company’s Spanish Town headquarters, has sent shock waves throughout Jamaica not only in terms of the dastardly and cowardly nature of the attack itself, but moreso by the fact that it represents an assault on civil society and particularly on those persons voluntarily offering themselves for leadership whether at the national or even community level. That Mr. Chambers was convinced by the Government of Jamaica to lead a process of reformation of a financial hemorrhaging state enterprise, also marred by corruption, was daunting enough but his murder perhaps by design is likely to have a chilling effect on those few persons who often serve on Government boards at no pay but for the rewards of seeking to make a meaningful contribution to their country. Similarly, there are several Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Jamaica whereby the persons in leadership positions are not necessarily paid but in fact are forced to confront the State and its satellite agencies in situations whereby through its collective indolence or lassitude threatens to or actually compromises the quality of life of the affected citizens.
In Jamaica today what the Chambers murder would suggest is that anyone who seeks to challenge the status quo will be silenced. Indeed, the challenge facing the Government at this point is how to convince people, who in the most part are reluctant to serve on State boards for fear of political branding and subsequent career backlash, to step forward. At the level of the CBO and NGO communities however, this represents a call to arms, as cowering in fear or retreating into relative safety of silence will not stop anything, as it only emboldens those who seek to victimize others.
The Jamaican political dynamic really reflects a culture whereby colloquially it is often said that supporters of the ruling JLP “fall in love with their leader” whereby in the Opposition PNP their supporters “fall in line behind their leader”. However, this does not necessarily mean that the best minds are available from either party for public service and hence others who are perhaps unconnected but are known for their stewardship in other endeavours may be tapped. With regards to CBOs and NGOs, for them to be effective, they must remain politically detached and therefore do not have the luxury of either falling in love or falling in line and often times find themselves at loggerheads with the political directorate which usually leads to accusations of being partisan. This is of course compounded by reckless statements from the political directorate, which usually in pandering for votes, seek to deflect blame from themselves by seeking to designate any grouping critical of their actions at specific points as having partisan predilections and by so doing deride any concerns raised. This is borne out by the treatment of NGO’s such as Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) and Families Against State Terrorism (FAST), both of which were formed as a response to the unchallenged excesses of Jamaica Constabulary Force in the late 1990s, but which were conveniently deemed by segments of the political directorate as “hugging up gunmen” and being ‘anti-police”.
That Jamaica is a place the rewards indolence and punishes diligence is not in question as the almost daily utterances by the political directorate continues to pander to a group of persons in this society who “live free” and are not guided by the norms which inform any modern civilized society. Indeed, squatters are now to be paid for their solid waste instead of being removed whereas in some communities property taxes have been increased by nearly 500 percent; some communities which have been designated by the NWC as “Red Area” pay absolutely no utilities or taxes but have the full backing of their political representatives; persons for specified communities (particularly the structured inner cities – garrisons) who failed to pay in full for their homes will be given the title and the debt written off whereas persons in similar circumstances in other areas routinely lose their properties at auction; and the laws related to squatting or ‘spontaneous settlement” only govern Crown Lands, literally ignoring the dilemma of the private landowner. Hence, there is a view that anyone that seeks to challenge the status quo is against the poor and must be silenced. However, the majority of the population does not have that latitude and must continue to defend their rights as guaranteed under the Jamaican constitution and cannot afford to cede their communities to the lawless as the politicians are wont to do. Douglas Chambers by all reports stood tall in his quest to reform the JUTC, never relinquishing his principles and his efforts therefore must be lauded. It would be an insult to his memory and those of other like minded public servants who had predeceased him to abandon the process of reformation and continue to cede Jamaica to lawless and anti-social elements who would wish to plunder and pillage the islands resources with impunity.
In Jamaica today what the Chambers murder would suggest is that anyone who seeks to challenge the status quo will be silenced. Indeed, the challenge facing the Government at this point is how to convince people, who in the most part are reluctant to serve on State boards for fear of political branding and subsequent career backlash, to step forward. At the level of the CBO and NGO communities however, this represents a call to arms, as cowering in fear or retreating into relative safety of silence will not stop anything, as it only emboldens those who seek to victimize others.
The Jamaican political dynamic really reflects a culture whereby colloquially it is often said that supporters of the ruling JLP “fall in love with their leader” whereby in the Opposition PNP their supporters “fall in line behind their leader”. However, this does not necessarily mean that the best minds are available from either party for public service and hence others who are perhaps unconnected but are known for their stewardship in other endeavours may be tapped. With regards to CBOs and NGOs, for them to be effective, they must remain politically detached and therefore do not have the luxury of either falling in love or falling in line and often times find themselves at loggerheads with the political directorate which usually leads to accusations of being partisan. This is of course compounded by reckless statements from the political directorate, which usually in pandering for votes, seek to deflect blame from themselves by seeking to designate any grouping critical of their actions at specific points as having partisan predilections and by so doing deride any concerns raised. This is borne out by the treatment of NGO’s such as Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) and Families Against State Terrorism (FAST), both of which were formed as a response to the unchallenged excesses of Jamaica Constabulary Force in the late 1990s, but which were conveniently deemed by segments of the political directorate as “hugging up gunmen” and being ‘anti-police”.
That Jamaica is a place the rewards indolence and punishes diligence is not in question as the almost daily utterances by the political directorate continues to pander to a group of persons in this society who “live free” and are not guided by the norms which inform any modern civilized society. Indeed, squatters are now to be paid for their solid waste instead of being removed whereas in some communities property taxes have been increased by nearly 500 percent; some communities which have been designated by the NWC as “Red Area” pay absolutely no utilities or taxes but have the full backing of their political representatives; persons for specified communities (particularly the structured inner cities – garrisons) who failed to pay in full for their homes will be given the title and the debt written off whereas persons in similar circumstances in other areas routinely lose their properties at auction; and the laws related to squatting or ‘spontaneous settlement” only govern Crown Lands, literally ignoring the dilemma of the private landowner. Hence, there is a view that anyone that seeks to challenge the status quo is against the poor and must be silenced. However, the majority of the population does not have that latitude and must continue to defend their rights as guaranteed under the Jamaican constitution and cannot afford to cede their communities to the lawless as the politicians are wont to do. Douglas Chambers by all reports stood tall in his quest to reform the JUTC, never relinquishing his principles and his efforts therefore must be lauded. It would be an insult to his memory and those of other like minded public servants who had predeceased him to abandon the process of reformation and continue to cede Jamaica to lawless and anti-social elements who would wish to plunder and pillage the islands resources with impunity.
4 comments:
Excellent post!I concur totally with your sentiments and perspectives.
The mafia-style assassination of Douglas Chambers is a really sad moment for Jamaica, the sort of event that could mark the island's descent into total anarchy. I do not normally support the death penalty but this is one instance where I may change my mind. And how did those sorry thugs know that he was coming out for a break? Somebody inside must have tipped them off, which makes the who affair even more sordid. Like most here in Jamaica, I have mixed feelings about the performance of the current administration but must credit them for their commitment to address corruption, "bandoolooism" and inefficiency in the public sector, with some success thus far. I don't care whether or not Douglas Chambers was a "nice person" but the recent figures on the JUTC's improved performance speak for themselves and demonstrated that his interventions were necessary and effective. Sadly, those who had benefited most from the previous mismanagement seem to have felt that he was taking away their rightful livelihood and therefore deserved to die. We've heard similar comments about other areas of public life, such as the corruption clean-up in the Police. What has this country come to when state employees regard gains from corruption and misappropriation of state resources as part of their legitimate entitlements? Jamaica is facing a "do or die" moment: tackle the problems or sink into an abyss of social violence and disorder which will make Haiti look like Utopia!
Excellent post! This barefaced murder of Douglas Chambers really highlights the extent to which this society has degenerated as it is obvious that seeking to truly confront corruption in Jamaica is tantamount to signing your own death warrant. Indeed the continuos pandering by the political directorate actually leads some persons to develop a sense of entitlement for the receipt of proceeds of corrupt practices and from the misappropriation of state resources and who will therefore eliminate anyone who threatens that facility. However I question how is that the two reported gunmen knew that Mr Chambers was likely to come to the gate when he did? Also how is that the shotgun utilized in the murder was not seen by anyone prior to being used? This strikes me not only as a hit but also points to the possible complicity of a number of persons on the JUTC compound on that fateful Friday afternoon.
I am in complete agreement with this
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