IT has been said that hindsight is 20/20 vision. Hindsight has to do with the understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened. Bruce Golding is caught in such a pickle with respect to the Dudus (Christopher Coke) affair. In retrospect, Mr Golding should not have yielded to the temptation of being enthroned as the member of parliament for West Kingston (popularly called Tivoli Gardens).

Why? Because prior to his ascendancy to the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party, Mr Golding as the founder of the National Democratic Movement said he was vehemently opposed to garrison-type politics. Indeed, that was why he had left the then Edward Seaga-led JLP, subsequently declaring that he had no intention of “hugging up any gunmen” (or words to that effect). This stance by the Golden One found much favour with many well-thinking Jamaicans who had become tired (and still are) of the tribal politics which relies heavily on violence, intimidation and various forms of corruption in order to obtain and retain power.

That Mr Golding decided to represent what former Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin called “the mother of all garrisons” is therefore most ironic as it was a classic case of putting a square peg in a round hole. Looking back, both he and his supporters may well rue the day when they did not opt for him to find a safe seat somewhere else in the country. PJ Patterson, that most astute of all Jamaican politicians, it is said, when given the option to represent the PNP in Central Kingston (a seat successfully held by Michael Manley), decided against such a move, preferring to take on a rural constituency bereft of any garrison-type politics, South East Westmoreland.

Just think this one through. If Mr Golding at this time were not the MP for West Kingston, the domain of Dudus, would he have found himself between a rock and a hard place? Alas, poor Bruce! A case of being hoisted on one’s own petard? Well, the horse has already bolted through the gate and the JLP, perhaps for the first time in its long, illustrious history, has found itself at odds with Jamaica’s and its greatest ally, the United States of America! It must be remembered that while the leftist People’s National Party has been known in the past to adopt a certain anti-American stance, especially during the height of the Cold War (think Cuba and Fidel Castro), the JLP was always totally in the bosom of Uncle Sam. Indeed, many decades ago when its maximum leader and founder Sir Alexander Bustamante was asked by reporters what was the JLP’s foreign policy, he quipped, “We are with the West!” This in essence meant that the JLP was with the USA, the bastion of western civilisation, democracy and civilisation. Wonder what Busta must be thinking now? Would he have taken the same position as Mr Golding at this time? Food for thought.

Those who argue that Jamaica’s sovereignty is at stake do so disingenuously because, in the final analysis, a country whose irrefutable designation is being that of a “narco-democracy” has already forfeited its sovereignty to the dons and others of such ilk. Mr Golding’s decision to put his political fortunes on the line in his defence of this one man clearly suggests a departure from normal foreign policy relations whereby the tenets of a signed treaty are held to be sacred. And in the event that such a scenario develops, then the appropriate thing to do is to have the judiciary determine what is legal and hence constitutional. To usurp the role of the judiciary while preferring to use Parliament as a platform to influence and enjoin public opinion is simply playing to the gallery which in this case may well have in its midst those individuals whose modus operandi is not in the best interests of the country.

Let us be realistic, as colleague columnist Mark Wignall outlined in his Sunday Observer article, there is likely to be a major social fallout (and perhaps economic too), if Dudus Coke, the Big Man, is extradited to the United States. But outside of this likely outcome, there are also serious implications for the ruling JLP whose leader could well be declared persona non grata in his own constituency if he should be party to such a perceived collusion with the US State Department. Additionally, if Dudus is extradited, there is the likelihood that he may be lured into a plea-bargain arrangement. Would the caged bird decide to sing? And what would be the deleterious consequences of such an occurrence?

In the meantime, the political fallout has begun, with many Jamaicans feeling that they will not be able to get a US visa or the one they have may be terminated. One youth man last week declared to me in a most chagrined mood that he was not going to bother to go the US Embassy because he knows he will not get a visa. Meanwhile, many Jamaicans from all walks of life will be approaching their travel to the USA with great trepidation as they will hear that their visa has been cancelled only when they arrive at the airport to board a flight. Blame it on Bruce? The US State Department has so far denied any such linkage, but in politics perception can break or make you.

The bottom line is that Jamaica is now moving towards being a de facto republic, notwithstanding our allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors. Based on perception, we now have a president whose all-pervasive power makes him King of the Hill. Serve us right! For years we have been dabbling with the notion of parting company with our colonial masters as well as pussyfooting with respect to the dismantling of garrison constituencies. Now it is time to pay the price for vacillation and pusillanimity.

In this context, the PNP has very little moral ground to stand on and must see itself as also being part of the problem rather than the solution. The die is cast.