Against the run of play, PM Golding snatches a PR victory from defeat – bully for him! We know only a weak leader needs to issue so many Obama photo ops and voice clips of support by PM Skerrit et al. PM who? Mr Skerrit, “see me an come liv wid me” is not the same – ask any Jamaican! President Obama came to the T&T summit and asked us for “honest dialogue” and “mutual respect”.

He got 10 months of strident evasion, and then a sudden about-face. A new president; a young, dignified black man; our first time working with him on mutual issues, a chance to build trust and Bruce blew it. Building trust helps us, but “kin teet” in photo ops is not trust. The US is our best friend, that’s why 1 m of us live there in peace. Bruce blundered and payback time will be when we least expect it – America never forgets. Let’s get closure on some things and see what’s left!

Bruce’s reprieve by the chattering classes cuts no ice among thoughtful people. But we need stability to pursue the anti-crime and growth agenda, so let’s support the PSOJ stand. He created this mess, let him clean it up! They must keep his “feet to the fire”! America’s agenda is not ours. They got what they wanted. We have not. Do we just forget it and move on?

“Do a Skerrit” and not see and hear what we saw and heard? UK politicians know more than I do. A Jamaican is a candidate to chair the UK Labour party – a big proud first – and one racist said she would do better to go home and clean things up – we can’t hide! “Everything is everything” – Bob. Oh Brucey! Why? Only the inquiry can tell us. PMs come and PMs go – we must fix our nation. First, what do we know?

The timeline is that a request to extradite Michael C Coke, aka Dudus, came here and on August 28, 2009 an indictment was opened in a NY court. Golding opposed this and his minister wrote letters into 2010 asking for “more information”. March 3, Bruce made his pompous “If I have to pay the political price for it I will!” speech. He ignored appeals for the courts to deal with it. Yet, there were 30 extraditions besides Coke’s on his watch – the courts threw out some and allowed some – he said nothing.

May 16, after months of defiance, Bruce did an about-face and on May 17 a warrant was out for Coke’s arrest. May 24, the police went to execute it in a barricaded Tivoli and killed 73 civilians. Coke had left, a reward was offered so on June 22 he was captured while being chauffeured by Rev Al Miller, and in 24 hours was arraigned and remanded by a NY court. Here, Rev Miller was charged and bailed. This screwed up many lives, property, careers, left 73 dead and perplexes many here and abroad. Only an inquiry will bring closure. Michael Manley stood up for all poor people against his class and we respect him. Bruce stood up for one rich, shady don – also a Michael against the nation! Why Bruce? Why? He said he would “pay the price” but ducked when the tab came! Forgive? Yes. Forget? No!

Dudus and Rev Miller are OK as law takes its course. Miller has good character referees and Dudus can call many highly placed ones too, but will they answer? This debacle is like a Hydra – cut off a head and a new one grows. Now it’s Minister Dwight Nelson – a bwoy to Rear Admiral Lewin. Dwight, did you “pripse” Dudus? Now we all see why the Whistleblower Law must not require reports to any minister or a boss. People must be able to tell the press, here or abroad or the OCG! Dwight must go to court as it will shed light in dark places. Go for it! you have nothing to hide! Or do you? Why hide behind the Official Secrets Act? Cry shame!

An unelected politician abuses a distinguished public officer. Wicked act! Bruce must fire him for breach of transparency. Will he? No! So, after legal matters, what’s left? The hard things we the people have to sort out for ourselves. We have no court for decency and morality in public life, no morality police as the Taliban do. We have the ballot box! We elect our leaders to do the right thing – they do not but we can’t move them! Election 2012 is not about growth – we have starved before. Job #1 is to take the work from MPs who defended the indefensible and give it to those we can trust!

What do the past 203 days of filibuster and chicanery mean? Check this out!

* The JLP is bedrock Jamaica. JLP and PNP were formed by cousins, creole men, heirs to the British. Manley was the acme of native aspiration – educated, ethical. Bustamante (born Clarke) was eccentric and theatrical. Norman was hard dough bread, Busta croissant! Seaga his mentee, brainy, uber nationalist, committed to the poor, but not seen as the standard-bearer of creole culture either. All are true patriots! They helped form our true values and Bruce now gives these values a sinister twist!

* What transpired between August 2009 and now does not represent JLP pedigree and values. Venal men wedded to troughing now see Busta’s party as a mere tool to personal power and enrichment, not as service! They lost the vision. Union bosses who should be at the coal face urging production in this crisis are nesting in Cabinet; other members change party as we do socks. The party is run by mercenaries! Where is its spiritual centre? Who speaks and lives its values? Its soul? Bruce? Hahaa! Who? Turn again, JLP!

* JLP, PNP rivalry and cass-cass is normal, but this is a first; PM, Cabinet, party executive, JLP senators openly trash our values! They don’t care who sees! Shame!

* For the first time at last Jamaica united about something – private sector, churches, JLP floor members, rights and civil society groups; diaspora, press, NDM and PNP. Thanks, Bruce! This is huge! Unprecedented! It augurs well for our democracy but as the MPs have no shame, we need new laws to remove those who “mess up” and do not resign.

Will Bruce have a legacy? Maybe! He must first put substance on his apology and use his one term well. He must make changes to rid us of the tyranny of politicians. Start here:

(1) Appoint a British or CCJ judge to inquire into events from August 2009 to July 2010.

(2) Initiate term limits, fixed election date; drop MPs after four terms – 20 years on the public payroll is enough; an independent OCG, able to apply sanctions; reduce the PM’s power; vote public funds for parties’ core staff and offices (not campaigns), set a cap on donations (with disclosure to the OCG) require usual reports and audited accounts. Parties source and approve candidates for MP so they must be transparent and open to all. Do it, Bruce!

Hudson-Wilkin

MoBay’s own Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin is now Chaplain of the UK’s House of Commons and Vicar of Westminster – another first. In time she may be the first woman Bishop. The new Jamaican migrant is self-assured and highly qualified. Not a “hewer of wood” but in the upper echelons of British life, as she would be at home. Pray for her!

Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants, currently on assignment in the UK.

franklinjohnston@hotmail.com