Attacking the media

The sprint to the finish line in the general election is on in earnest. As the race intensifies so will the level of anxiety, particularly on the part of the party diehards. So far, the anxiety is not the product of the gun violence that has marred previous elections. There are incidents of stone throwing in some areas but as unwelcome as this is, it is nothing to be compared to bullets being fired indiscriminately by either side of the political fence as was done in the past. We must pat ourselves on the back that there is a growing maturity in our politics. This can only intensify as civil society and other members of society step up their vigilance of the political process and insist that civility and decorum be the distinguishing characteristics of those seeking to wield power and influence over us.

The Press Association of Jamaica is understandably concerned and even outraged at comments that have come from political platforms that resemble media intimidation. These concerns were addressed to Prime Minister Holness who himself has made statements critical of the media. Although he did not do this, the calling of names on political platforms in the heat of political battles, as we know them in Jamaica, is not helpful. There are fanatical elements in both parties who will interpret such statements and name calling as a marching order to hurt those who are "dissing" their respective parties. It does not matter whether the media practitioners who have been called out are seasoned journalists or just public commentators putting out their views for public consumption and hence scrutiny. I do not think it matters too seriously either, whether these commentators are members of a political party, although it demands the highest canons of integrity for these people to hold an independent and credible course given the tribal nature of our politics. In the end, the people will judge. There is nothing to be gained from vilifying them. It is only a person with an imbecilic orientation who would want to hurt another for expressing views that do not comport with his own. When viewed on a wider, national stage, such behaviour is not only reprehensible but pathological.

Media practitioners and those who offer public commentary on matters of national importance must police themselves and hold themselves accountable for the views they expound. Their self-accountability must be deeply related to the facts and the truth of what they are expounding. As exegetes of social reality, their commitment must be to the truth. As they seek to do their work, they cannot believe that they are exempt from criticism. It is very interesting that it is often those who criticise social reality that are often themselves resentful of criticism when it is directed at them. Unfair and vitriolic criticism is certainly not welcomed, but media practitioners are not exempt from being called to account, especially when they demonstrate clear bias of which they are not always mindful.

And we can be biased in our assessment of the performance of our political leaders while they held the reins of power. The only real firewall against bias in the media is uncompromising fidelity to the truth; and truth must be based on hard fact, not on what one wishes it to be. This is hard, especially when one shows a tribal commitment to a political party. It cannot be said, for example, that the PNP in its 18 years in office wrecked Jamaica, or never did one thing that is worthy of praise. To mention one signal project, the conceptualisation and implementation of the road infrastructure projects during their tenure will redound to the country's benefit in the years to come. My criticism of the PNP is that with all the tragic errors that led to the collapse of the financial system in the 1990s, the crippling debt load that they left the country with and other policies that they implemented that will leave the country hog-tied economically for years to come, there has not been a single word of apology or remorse that they did anything wrong. Now it will be difficult for me as a citizen to trust a party with power if it cannot bring itself to even acknowledge that its functionaries made mistakes under their watch, and to lay out a clear path that will help them avoid such pitfalls in the future. Many of those who are now jostling for power are the ones who made the mistakes in that earlier dispensation. My belief is that they should retire or be retired in the public interest. They have enjoyed their last hurrah. And this is also true of others in the present government.

Also, it is not altogether true that the JLP has not done anything noteworthy to move the country forward since it came to power four years ago. Interest rates are at their lowest and the inflation rate has remained stable, the exchange rate is stable, the JDX exchange is a model of its kind anywhere in the world, and there is a sense that the country is being put on a steadier course to grow itself to prosperity. But grave mistakes have been made, especially with the operation of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP). Heads have already rolled in the execution of the project and we must await the forensic audit and the contractor general's report to see if more heads should roll and if people will face the courts.

The truth is that no government is above fault and for that reason no journalist who criticises them. Political power and journalism place people squarely in the public domain. Those who would seek to practise these great professions must ask at all times whose interest is being served. I find it refreshing when I get e-mails excoriating me when I criticise the PNP and equally vilifying me when I criticise the JLP. I am not swayed by either, for my interest is always what I perceive to be good for Jamaica as I seek to comment on facts and hold myself accountable to truth. I recognise that it is a privilege to be able to commend my thoughts for public consumption. This is a privilege with grave responsibilities. In a free society, as we have in Jamaica, the privilege to offer your views without coercion and intimidation must not be taken for granted.

stead6655@aol.com

www.drraulston.com