PRIOR to becoming an elected official, I was a full-time journalist, newspaper publisher, as well as a political and current affairs commentator, in addition to previously being a talk show host. While wearing those hats I was numbered among those who chastised politicians and was even categorised as a prophet of doom and gloom. What was most important, though, was that for the most part what I said or did was balanced and displayed a certain independence of thought. At least, that was what I was told by those who respected my opinions.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I have come to realise that being a politician in Jamaica is one of the most hazardous, ungrateful, and most times unrewarding activities to be involved in. My main reason for saying is that there is a high level of hypocrisy surrounding politics in this country. Indeed, one wonders if it is not more a case of the hypocrisy of politics rather than the politics of hypocrisy.

Of course, when one becomes a member of a political party, especially in our very tribal environment, one is guided by certain principles, which in essence seek to limit the extent to which one speaks freely and independently. Indeed, since becoming a member of the People’s National Party and subsequently a member of Parliament, I have been admonished by some of my detractors for having gone silent on certain pertinent issues. Some even say I have been muzzled. Others have taken the extreme view that I will not last long in Parliament because more sooner than later I will get fed up with a system that is corrupt and which is more geared towards being self-serving, be it of a partisan or selfish nature. Well, for two years now I have been in the belly of the beast and I will not be resigning, neither am I going to resign myself to the negative aspects of being a politician, or even worse, succumbing to the pressures and become “one a dem”.

What I have discovered is that many of the persons who constantly bash politicians are in fact frustrated would-be (wannabes) politicians who cannot take the heat in the kitchen, but prefer to stay in the stands and criticise ad nauseam.

One of the most hurtful aspects of being a politician is when one is grouped in the broad-brush category used by most persons which stipulates that all politicians are corrupt and are liars. The Gleaner newspaper has gone as far as to name all politicians in Gordon House (PNP and JLP) as members of their respective gangs. This may well cause one to wonder if the anti-gang legislation now passed in the Lower House and expected to be passed in the Upper House (Senate) should apply to our 63 members of Parliament. In another instance, an aggrieved citizen in a letter to the editor in that same broadsheet referred to Jamaica’s current crop of politicians as “The criminals of Gordon House”.

We have a saying in Jamaica, “see me and live with me is two different things”. This may well apply to politics, as those on the outside will always find it easy to berate and demean those who have the courage and determination to enter the political arena. That is why when all is said and done I have to have a certain level of respect for our politicians because “it sipple out deh”. It is no bed of roses as many persons would want to think.

However, I would not want readers to think that I am being a crybaby. On the contrary, I am urging Jamaicans from all walks of life to become more involved in the politics of their country. There is a saying that bad politicians are elected by good citizens who do not vote. So true. When one looks at the decreasing number of Jamaicans that go out and vote on election day this is a most worrying situation. Because what this means is that increasingly one is looking at a minority government and this does not augur well for our democracy.

The role of civil society needs to take on greater significance, and many of the interest groups out there should be devising ways and means of encouraging citizens to participate more in the affairs of their nation. There are too many individuals and groups with narrow, partisan agendas (some hiding behind the NGO cloak) who expend their energies too much in grandstanding, upstaging, tearing down, and creating distractions. It is time they look at the bigger picture rather than pursuing selfish intentions; and part of that bigger picture involves patriotism and love of country. In this vein, it can be said that too many Jamaicans have one foot in and one foot out. In other words, this island state needs more nation-builders rather than tear-down artists.

Interestingly, many of the persons who complain that they are not seeing their political representatives, or that Government is not doing anything are the very same ones who are tax dodgers and who only want to corner the MP or councillor in order to get a “let-off”. I have encountered some opposition and abuse in my constituency because of the stance that I have taken regarding the distribution of scarce benefits and spoils. Unfortunately, this is a lonely road, because not even those who decry corruption have come out forcefully enough in giving support to politicians like me who have dared to make a difference. Shame on you!

If Jamaica is to become the ideal place where we want to live, work, play, and raise our children then starting on the sidelines is not the answer. The bitter irony is that we leave the politicians to take the heat while escaping comfortably to our ivory towers. Cursing the politician is an exercise in futility if those who do so remain a part of the problem rather than the solution. It is time that well-thinking Jamaicans pinpoint good politicians and support them in their bid to clean up the system. Let us bear in mind the Jamaican proverb which says, “Finger never say look yah, it say look deh!” It is time for every Jamaican to take responsibility for his and her action if we are to take Jamaica back from the criminal and unpatriotic citizens in our midst.

Lloyd B Smith is a member of Parliament and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the People’s National Party or the Government of Jamaica.