Building our own national identity is important

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Jamaicans who bother to think about such things are increasingly impatient and frustrated with the way we have chosen to govern ourselves since political Independence from Britain 50 years ago.

Hence, for example, the cries for action to be taken, once and for all, about dropping the British monarch as Jamaica's Head of State and also, removing ourselves from the British Privy Council which serves as our highest court.

An already ludicrous situation is made doubly so since -- as Foreign Minister AJ Nicholson reminds us -- Jamaicans, in recent years, have been required to meet visa requirements in order to visit Britain.

Both major political parties have long agreed as a basic principle that the monarchy needs to go. But as has been repeatedly pointed out, that break requires lengthy and expensive twists and turns, including a referendum. It would appear that the longstanding absence of trust in the political fraternity is the main reason the monarchy is still with us -- the constant fear being that the opposing party will use the opportunity presented by a referendum to cynically serve partisan political ends.

As Mr Nicholson has often said, walking away from the Privy Council is far less complex -- requiring parliamentary consensus and the will to act.

The People's National Party (PNP), which is now in Government, has consistently advocated Jamaica's departure from the Privy Council and its replacement by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Jamaica's highest appellate jurisdiction. Lest we forget, Jamaica was among the leaders in advocating the formation of the CCJ and currently helps to foot the bill for its continuance.

Mr Nicholson, a legal luminary in his own right and a former justice minister and attorney general, has long been passionate about the Privy Council/CCJ issue. He has indicated that he will be pushing for the Government to satisfactorily resolve this matter before the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's Independence in August.

Thankfully, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which has in the past questioned the credibility of the CCJ and in effect has blocked the move away from the Privy Council, appears to be changing tack.

We look forward to the governing PNP and the Opposition JLP acting progressively and with one accord in ridding us of this inappropriate carry-over from colonialism, in time for the nation's 50th anniversary.

Having done that, they should set about addressing the equally important matter of replacing the monarchy with a system which genuinely reflects the reality of Jamaica and its people.

There are those who will suggest that as we struggle to keep our heads above water economically, concerning ourselves with issues such as we are discussing here constitutes a waste of time and resources.

However, this newspaper is of the view that building and reinforcing our own national identity should be seen as of paramount importance if we are ever to adequately and sustainably address the several complex difficulties facing this country, including our ailing economy.

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COMMENTS (4)

3/10/2012

Great post. The world should know that not all of Jamaica is like that when I was there in Manchester, Kingston eeemsd like another country unto itself. That's no way excuse the crime and violence but sometimes the media makes it seem like Jamaica is the worst place on Earth when every single country in the world faces the same problems. Some just have more problems and less resources to come up with a amicable solution. Problems such as unemployment and proper investigative equipments to lock up those who needs to be, road infracture and education of the population. What is happeneing now is the fault of the Jamaican elites who mingled with the war lords to gain the upper hand on their competition or rival in business and/or politics. The by-product is that the people became so acustom and dependent on this way of life and culture that with out it many now feels threaten and will do anything to preserve their life styles and the dons and thugs that fuels it. How many times have we seen politicians and public personalities at the parties and in some cases the funerals of know drug king pins and murders ( area leaders ). What did the educated population did? They instead of fighting against the beast sought out how to gain and manipulate the situation to their advantage. Jamaica and Jamaicans all over the world must now see and know that this bad man culture has to end particularly those of us who know and say and do nothing are really participants and the destruction of the Land we Love. This way of thinking must be replaced by educating thinking and priciples, doctrines and beliefs in order and sincerity..-= alonso s last blog .. =-.[]VA:F [1.9.11_1134]please wait...VA:F [1.9.11_1134](from 0 votes)

Beresford Davidson
2/18/2012

Be thankful for small mercies and accept your situation as is in this world then grow your economy. The talk of republic and CCJ are all misplaced priorities that will become a load stone about our necks. When some so-called educated people speak on these topics they really are looking to become the one percent at the expense of the 99. Jamaicans are not fools, I hope; they should not listen to these preachers of 'nyam'n leff.'

John Smith
2/13/2012

The Observer Editorial team is on a roll these days. Anyone who doesn't recognise the importance of these issues to sustained economic development and global competitiveness is simply narrow minded and severely short sighted. We are like free slaves who are afraid to strike out on their own - rather stick with the old master. I presume Stephen Fox meant "operating system" in which case I do concur. We need to start adapting ourselves for the 21st century.

Stephen Fox
2/12/2012

In computing terms the constitution is the operation system of a country. In architectural terms the constitution is the foundation of a country. It is the infrastructure of our law. In all ways the constitution represents who we are and what we can do. Our history has been limited by our constitution. The expense of a change will be miniscule compared to the long term benefits. We need to rewrite the constitution to form a springboard from which we can leap into the future.

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Building our own national identity is important