We deserve more than this 'loader man' debate

Thursday, October 20, 2011

THEY don't call it the political silly season for nothing. We find unbelievable the amount of time being spent by the two major political parties quarrelling over Mr Abe Dabdoub's very petulant styling of Prime Minister-designate Andrew Holness as a "loader man".

This storm in a teacup is engaging even the political ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, at a time when our nation is about to be called upon to make serious decisions for our future, including electing a new government to take us out of the bleak economic situation in which are.

The rest of the world must find it hard to fathom this socio-political schizophrenia that afflicts Jamaicans. In one character, we can smash world records and squarely beat countries multiple times our size on the world's tracks, and in another, we behave like little infants fighting over marbles.

A quarrel over useless words cannot and must not form the backdrop for the swearing in of the first post-Independence prime minister. This is too important a development in our quest for a Jamaica worthy of being deemed the best place on earth to live, work and grow up our children.

If, as thinking people believe he will, Mr Holness calls a general elections by the end of this year, Jamaicans must decide whether to entrust him with the steering wheel and thus prove whether we have produced, out of all our agony, a leader who can take us past the cemetery of old, tribal, destructive politics.

For too long Jamaica has been robbed of its ability to achieve its innate and inherent greatness. Hollywood can scarcely make a movie without some reference to an element of Jamaica. The Third World's first and only megastar remains, in life and in death, Jamaica's Robert Nesta 'Bob' Marley. The strains of reggae music thumps in Buckingham Palace. The world's fastest man, Jamaica's Usain Bolt, is carrying the athletics globe upon his shoulders. The most decorated woman athlete in her time is Jamaica's Merlene Ottey. The best coffee and pimento in the world are grown in Jamaica. The Caribbean's most internationally known brand is Jamaica's Sandals. Need we go on?

Our unrequited greatness aside, there are immediate and compelling reasons for serious thought. The talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have hit a snag and requires careful thinking through. Without the Fund's vaunted seal of approval, other multilaterals won't be comfortable dealing with us. Contrary to partisan political thought, the IMF is not the Government's business alone.

It is Jamaica's.

A quarrel over name-calling suggests we are bereft of ideas, big or small. Name-calling will always be a feature of Jamaican political campaigning and, frankly, can be fun, when it does not get out of hand. Mr Edward Seaga once said that all the PNP had to offer was "a little sweetie man from Highgate", referring to the young, hot Mr Claude Clarke. More recently, Mr Pearnel Charles likened Mr Colin Campbell, who is about to challenge him for his seat, as a "refugee from August Town". These make for good humour and we'll take that any day over the guns and knives and ballot-rigging and drug money of past elections.

In fact, before long Mr Holness will be called much more than 'loader man' if he fails.

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COMMENTS (24)

James St. John
10/22/2011

Clovis is just like Perkins...or is he Perkins? Let them all have their fun....they are all doing what they do best>

James St. John
10/21/2011

If one should check the poll in this newspaper about this ridiculous argument presented by Political Ombudsman Herro Blair and the JLP...one would see how simple we can be in this the "silly season" The result of the poll is frightening...then we should remember that we are still in the "silly season". God help us all.

RED ANTS
10/21/2011

I hope people in the media will stop campaigning and running polls on this loader man comment because it is not earning no more votes than what your party will be getting.I have heard worst comment than this and yet i don't politicians stoning each other.Bruce started this Driva comment and i seen where cartoonist have JLP bus on good wheels and PNP bus on some pop down wheels and it wasn't any problem,I don't hear Andrew quarreling.bet this doesn't get posted.

0o k
10/20/2011

Obviously the Ombudsman is irrelevant and it time we got rid of such a Office. It is a drain on the Tax-Payers of Jamaica.

Dane Connor
10/20/2011

Balanced, neutral editorial. Very good.

carlton burton
10/20/2011

Is it Mr.Andrew Holness that is continuing this petty thing? or is it Herro Blair, Abe Dabdoud and the Observer? Well it is good to know Abe received the blessings of the Leader of his party. May I suggest that The Observer put this 'storm in a teacup' to rest. Unnu no si seh Andy naw pay unnu no mine?

Beverley Hanson
10/20/2011

This silly debate over name-calling is a way for both political parties to distract the voters from the fact that these politicians cannot make Jamaica better. Voters keep vascillating between the JLP & PNP who have proven to be clueless as to how to "grow" Jamaica. Their selfish ways have left many J'cans in abject poverty and they don't care so that's why they'll spend all this time being silly over name-calling.

Paul Campbell
10/20/2011

We need a new Ombudsman.
This one does not know what his job-description is.
It is NOT to arbitrate silly name-calling between politicians.
It IS to prevent political victimization of the public by politicians.
Herro Blair, if you dont understand the job, RESIGN.

John Smith
10/20/2011

Talk about strawman editorial. This 'storm in a teacup' first came to my attention as one of the Observer's lead stories saying Dabdoub 'refuses to apologise'. Didn't even find it worthwhile commenting. Now after the Observer has helped to stir the storm, this Editorial pops up. It must be read in that context. In short, the Observer Editorial team is creating its own news stories, taking its readers for a 'joy'ride. Bellevue season a the Observer.

St. Ann
10/20/2011

Prince Andrew or "loader man" whats the difference? "social status" is this the problem? Lets not fool ourselves it's more than name calling "social status" occupation provides an example of status that may be either ascribed or achieved, it can be achieved by one gaining the right knowledge and skill to become socially positioned into a higher position of that job; building a persons social identity within the occupation.
There's noting wrong with " Prince Andrew" but "loader man" everything wrong.

Raul Grant
10/20/2011

Editor I agree with you. When PSM was said to be behaving like leggo beast, some people did not have a problem yet an anology like loaderman have undergarments twisted in a bunch.
If Mr. holness is pushing this, I am not impressed. Honestly I did not realize that loaderman was comparable to leggo beast.

Meat Head
10/20/2011

Obviously we need to get beyond name-calling and into substantive issues. But, we cannot and should not tolerate denigration, particularly when there are racial overtones. In that regard, I couldn't agree more with Bishop Blair. This level of insensitivity, even if it was not intended, has no place in our politics.

Mark Forbes
10/20/2011

Come on Mr Editor, call it like it is. Blair is not being engaged by this storm, he was instrumental in creating it. And if all he has is that inane justification for an apology he should let it go and tell the JLP to back off.
I do not see our pols as comedians and certainly do not expect humor from them. The ad hominem attacks arises from their estimation that the electorate cannot understand reasoned arguments. Judging from what I see posted by the more educated, I am not sure they are wrong.

Leighton Williams
10/20/2011

AGREED

N Manley Blythe
10/20/2011

Editor, it is alarming that you see nothing wrong with name-calling yet there are two letters today which reference the writers' fear of the threat of bodily harm from use of certain words.
In our murder-plagued society where any hint of disrespect is a cause for death, I think we should all obtain a more serious outlook on this matter for "What is fun to you, is death to me".
Three cartoons in a row bashing the PNP, Editor, what is YOUR role in all of this silliness?
Clovis? Ease the tension!

Jakan 2011
10/20/2011

Thank you Observer! Others were called worse. Even if Mr Holness succeeds, he will be called names on any given day in certain given quarters. For those too young, there was a not-so-nice but funny song about the first 3 JLP PMs AND I recall a song that said something like "half a foot Simpson yu vagabond, if yu bother mi a chop off the todder one". Mr Simpson was an election candidate for one of the partes . Today there 'd be a lawsuit not to mention outcry near and far from disability groups.

Nejeeper KNG
10/20/2011

If they were to come together and tackle crime and corruption in this manner JA would be the safest place on earth. Look at what’s going on in the world today, countries are fighting to stabilize their economy and create security. While in JA people with a voice are using it to bicker instead of using it for a worthy cause like Crime and Corruption. This is an example of the lack of true vision that has kept us back for decades. Do they really care?

David Armstrong
10/20/2011

Since we are talking about the behavior of politicians let me add another comment to this. I don't like when politicians talk patois to their constituents. Yes I know that some of us think that patois is part of our cultural heritage and that is true. The point I want to make is that patois is not going to elevate us and make us economically competitive especially with other countries. Politicians don't use patois when they talk to foreign dignitaries. They should set the bar high.

David Armstrong
10/20/2011

The kind of name calling that politicians from both parties engage in is deplorable and uncivil and should not be tolerated. With the political system very corrupt and with the integrity and character of some politicians being questionable their uncivil behavior reinforces the perception or reality of the corruption in the political system. As it stands there is too much indiscipline in society and with politicians acting like buffoons and idiots only make the rest of society act like rogues.

Andrea Watson
10/20/2011

Sometimes you get it right, I agree with you 100%. Me like a little name calling if its witty and not defaming. We no want the fun to be taken out of politics and we have to learn not to sweat the little things. The more we fight over this foolishness is the more the name will stick and also Andrew has bigger fish to fry right now.

ghost rider
10/20/2011

Doesn't someone read these editorials to see that they make sense? The reasoning here by the Observer is beyond me.
The blame has to be with one side or the other in prolonging this debate. If you are saying that Mr. Dabdoub should apologize and move on you need to say so.
Observer if you want to come across as a credible newspaper you will have to do better than this.
There will be times enough when you can display your bias rather than pushing the envelope and appearing to be stupid.

fall mouth
10/20/2011

The Observer never ceases to amaze me. Having made their judgment in the first paragraph they go on to say that the two major parties are spending too much time over irrelevances.
But who is engaged in this? Mr. Dabdoub said something which he says he will not resile from. it is now up to the person who was deemed offended to move on.
To do otherwise would mean that Mr. Dabdoub would apologize.
If I step on your corn and refuse to apologize and you go on your way, what is the problem?

0o k
10/20/2011

The Leggo Beasts vs. The Loadah Man. I hope Comrades can tek is as dem dishing it out!

Chipmunk L.
10/20/2011

Excellent article. Right on point and covers all the bases of life, fun and the ridiculing which a part of life in Jamaica. You show me someone who has not been the butt of jokes and I will show you someone who has not lived in Jamaica!
Enough said. L.M.A.O..

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We deserve more than this 'loader man' debate