In eleven days time, we will mark the 48th anniversary of Jamaica’s political Independence. Any cursory analysis of how we have managed since 1962 will show that we are still finding it hard to govern ourselves.

The famous Gleaner editor, the late Theodore Sealy who helped planned the 1962 Independence Celebrations, was asked what he expected of Jamaicans, once we had become independent. His response is worth recalling.

Mr Sealy likened the society to a flock of birds locked up in a pen. One day, the door to the pen was opened. The chickens walked round and round past the open door without venturing outside. Then one ventured out and returned almost immediately. Then another went out and yet another. Suddenly, all the chickens realised that they could go out as they pleased, and there followed a mad rush to get out of the pen.

That, in a way, explains some of the craziness we do that demonstrate that we have a problem dealing with our self-governance. We are rushing madly ahead, grasping at our relatively newfound freedom, but not fully understanding that we are responsible for charting our own destiny and governing ourselves.

What unfolded in Parliament last week Tuesday when sanity left the chamber and caused a premature end to the State of Emergency, is a clear example of how our political parties find it easy to trifle with the safety and security of the Jamaican people, and their miserable failure to grasp the notion that it is we who must get ourselves out of our problems.

Mr Bruce Golding’s Government is asking the multilateral institutions for US$1 billion to help crush the criminals and their network. But let us get one thing straight: whether we get that money or not, we have to clean up our own mess, even as we thank our friends for their support. We cannot still be looking abroad for our salvation.

The only people who won last week was the criminals who might no longer feel they have to run and hide as when the security forces were operating with extraordinary powers under the limited State of Emergency.

Between May 23 when the operation started, and last Friday, the security forces said they had seized 113 illegal weapons, including 57 high-powered shotguns and rifles, and more than 15,000 rounds of ammunition in West Kingston. An additional 29 illegal weapons and more than 1,200 rounds of ammunition had also been seized elsewhere in the island.

From the high number of murders we were sustaining as a country, it is clear that there are many more guns and ammunition still being hidden, to await the time when it is safe to bring them out and continue the mayhem, God forbid.

It begs the question as to why the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is so afraid of a State of Emergency. Are they now trying to tell us that all the claims made by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) about the 1976 State of Emergency were true, that they used it to lock up the Opposition under Mr Edward Seaga and to win the elections of that year?

We are also watching to see if Mr Golding has abandoned the crime fight in favour of political gamesmanship. There is nothing stopping him from advising the governor general to call another State of Emergency.

The prime minister knows at least that he has the 15 days the PNP says it is willing to support in the first stance.

Unless, of course, the PNP is no less in the game. Then God help us!