From all indications, it would appear that Hurricane Dean has brought the PNP a windfall that it never anticipated. Some may interpret this as an answer to prayer, or the fulfilment of prophecy that once again it has been affirmed that God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform; that, indeed, he plants his footsteps on the seas and rides upon the storms.

It is to be expected after every national disaster that government moves with dispatch to help those most affected by it. We have seen this in the aftermath of other hurricanes that have hit the island.

It is the proper and moral thing to do when considered in its right perspectives. Part of this perspective must be our gratitude to our friends and neighbours abroad, especially the United States, who are always willing to come to our aid in a time of national crisis.

It cannot escape our thinking this time around that Dean occurred almost on the eve of a national election. If ever there was a time when a government felt justified in indulging in pork-barrel politics, this is it. Before the hurricane, there was a great deal of caution not to repeat Dr Davies' "run-with-it" extravagance of the 2002 polls. That extravagance can now be indulged, and it can be justified on the basis of a concern for the poor and a love for those who have been dispossessed by the hurricane. It can be justified by an appeal to human compassion, and who would quarrel with that?

Indeed, the extravagance has begun in the new-found love for the pensioners. There has perhaps never been another group of people who have worked for government and who have been treated with greater contempt than our pensioners. It had to take a hurricane to cause an attitude adjustment on the part of the government with respect to the plight of our pensioners.

What pensioners need is not a dole from government in the time of an emergency. They have given the best years of their life to the government service on behalf of the people of this country. They need consistency of care, and the National Insurance Fund has the resources that can guarantee them a better quality of life.

They will take the $5,000 that the prime minister has offered to them for they need the money. Some are literally at a point of destitution and every cent helps. But they deserve better, Madam Prime Minister.

The people of Jamaica must not be fooled with this new-found religion that has resulted in this overwhelming compassion for the masses. These are not ordinary times in Jamaica and the people must not be lulled into a false sense of complacency. The ill-advised State of Emergency has now been lifted. Its application was wobbly and its intentions dubious. It was removed only after leading members of civil society protested against it and when it finally dawned on party functionaries that it could not stand.

Even they saw that it was doing more harm to the country than good. It was a poor public relations gamble and it might have done more harm to the country than the hurricane did. As long as it remained in place, the greater the danger that it could have inflamed the sensibilities of people and engendered social chaos.

One may say that the emergency was intended to protect the rights of the people, but let us not be fooled. A State of Emergency gives the government vast and inordinate powers to cauterise and restrict the fundamental rights of citizens. It is the greatest tool available to government for the abuse of power. In the wrong hands it can do incalculable harm and wreak terrible havoc on a people. All well-thinking Jamaicans must be aware of the potential perils of a State of Emergency especially in the face of an impending general election. We have seen those perils in the past and we ignore them to our own detriment.

The prime minister has finally concurred with the Electoral Office of Jamaica that the elections be postponed to September 3. In the wake of the hurricane this makes eminent sense. What is profoundly disturbing, however, is the indecisiveness of the government in acceding to the wishes of the EOJ.

Why the delay in moving with dispatch to reassure the nation that somebody was in charge and their welfare was in good hands? Was the delay occasioned by the government's desire to "rinse" the postponement for political mileage? Was this the reason for what I understood to be the frantic political anxiety at Jamaica House where agreement was hard to come by? One wonders what might have happened if Dean had hit us with the intensity of a Gilbert or an Ivan.

The prime minister is understandably concerned that the hurricane and other matters should not be politicised. But is she aware of her own culpability in politicising the relief efforts? In crafting her government's response to the crisis, what level of consultation has she had with Her Majesty's loyal Opposition?

How bipartisan is the effort in easing the pain of those who have been more badly affected by the hurricane? Talk about transparency and accountability is one thing. What happens on the ground is quite another.

In the meantime, the EOJ and Mr Danville Walker in particular must be strongly commended for the work that they have done in promoting a fair and balanced electoral process. They have approached their work with professionalism and great enthusiasm and the country is the better for it. This writer wishes them great strength as they approach September 3. This may yet be the most defining general election in our history since Independence.

stead6655@aol.com

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