RECENT statements by first-term Member of Parliament Dr Dayton Campbell about the “Labourisation of the PNP” are unfortunate and reflect a sad diagnosis of political myopia. To begin with, the “national” in the People’s National Party (PNP) stands for something. The “national” in the PNP is inclusive; means “coast-to-coast”, bar none. And, unlike the “Labour” in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which segments, the national is countrywide.

Admittedly, Dr Campbell is young, full of exuberance, opinions, passions, and political ambitions. Perhaps, he wants to become the next party president and prime minister — good for him!

Evidently, he has little or no regard for the usefulness or importance of satisfying a period of political apprenticeship before offering his “services” nationwide. Yes, he won the St Ann North Western seat in the 2011 General Election, but that does not give him an automatic “rite of passage” to act in a manner consistent with how yellow jackets and hornets behave when attempting to make honey. We know wasps cannot make honey. One could draw reasonable inference from Dr Campbell’s obvious witless deduction that, because someone supports a different political party, other than the one that he supports, then that person is automatically barred from ever exercising his or his political conscience or option to migrate politically, as appropriate.

One hopes Dr Campbell is not, in the least, suggesting any such nonsense. For, if he is suggesting a political culture in which “political conversion” as a strategy and “political convertibility” as a possibility should be outlawed, then God help us.

Dr Campbell, political parties depend on independent voters; they also depend on political nomads and on converts, especially in marginal constituencies such as St Ann North Western, where you happen to be member of parliament. Political parties, and the governments they form, are better off when they accommodate divergent views and experiences. Should my rather acerbic criticisms of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and the PNP then automatically bar me from membership in that organisation? Think on these things, Doc. You and I, both, are post-Independence Jamaican “pickneys”; therefore, we cannot continue to perpetuate the same old-style politics of tribalism and unnecessary divisiveness our ancestor bequeathed us.

Now to the matter at hand, surrounding Joan Gordon-Webley’s membership in the PNP. Circa October 1980, political gunmen controlled substantial parts of Kingston and St Andrew. Political insanity, wretched sabotage, hoarding and ‘marrying’ of basic food items, and all sorts of political violence reached an apogee. During those trying times, over 800 Jamaicans were killed, including O D Ramtallie’s driver, who was viciously murdered in central Clarendon. Then junior minister in the Ministry of National Security and member of parliament for St Andrew East Rural, Roy McGann, and his bodyguard were ambushed and brutally assassinated in Gordon Town.

By way of history, and for context, McGann successfully contested the St Andrew East Rural seat in the 1976 General Election against Jamaica Labour Party stalwart, Oswald Harding. For, although political violence was high during the 1976 General Election, the brutality and tragedy of Roy McGann’s and his bodyguard’s death was not only shameful, but it exposed the extent to which people who sought political power manipulated and controlled hoodlums.

It also signalled a dangerous shift in the political parties’ control over local gangs. We have come a far way since, but we have chosen to neglect, purposefully or contemptuously, the enormous contribution of former Prime Minister P J Patterson in reducing political tensions in this country. We may disagree with aspects of his stewardship as prime minister (1992 to 2006) — I have called him out on several governmental misprioritisations — but no one with a scintilla of honesty can accuse P J of pushing the kinds of incendiary political rhetoric and crassness his political nemesis is known for. For, in spite of the vitriol and nasty accusations hurled at him, P J essentially showed forgiveness. He may still remember them, but as one of his harshest critics confided recently: “Burns, I have written most unfavourably about P J, yet he was the first person and politician to congratulate me when I received my national award…”

As the story goes, Michael Manley ill-advisedly announced the 1980 General Election several months ahead of time. By October that year, “political violence entered a new phase of terrorism”. According to Michael Manley, “Roy McGann had just concluded a campaign rally and was driving home some PNP supporters. On arriving in the Gordon Town area, McGann encountered a roadblock set up by rival JLP supporters. A confrontation then ensued between JLP and PNP supporters. Upon arriving, the police began firing into the crowd and McGann and his bodyguard, Police Corporal Errol White, were killed”. On the face of it, it appeared at the time that members of the security forces killed McGann.

However, in those turbulent years, it was an open secret that a substantial cohort of the Jamaica Constabulary Force openly declared political allegiance to the JLP and operated with obvious political biases and impunity. The Roy McGann killing was dramatic because McGann had a radio transmitter that allowed the entire incident to be broadcast live on the local radio and his final words were: “The police are firing on us!” As Manley asserted, “suddenly party radios could hear McGann’s voice calling repeatedly, ‘I am Roy McGann, the minister, do not shoot!'” A further burst of gunfire was heard and he went silent.

Since Roy McGann’s death in 1980, residual tension has been directed toward Joan Gordon-Webley, then political opponent, from PNP supporters. However, the record speaks for itself. Gordon-Webley was in no way implicated in the killing of McGann. To this day, the motivation behind that regrettable act remains a mystery. Therefore, no one can or should attempt to implicate or impugn her character in any way. It is for that reason that this column strongly demurs the tribalistic reactions from elements within the PNP towards her. Guess what, the executive council of the PNP approved her membership.

Fast-forward to the politics of today and Joan Gordon-Webley remains a formidable political voice. This same political rabble-rouser referred to Portia Simpson Miller as a “Jezebel”. Now, I am not a Bible man, but no other biblical figures are more synonymous with evil than Judas and Jezebel. My research shows that Jezebel was a “heartless woman with a bloody history that belied the name she bore”. For Jezebel means, “chaste, free from carnal connection”, but by nature she was a most licentious woman. She was a voluptuary, with all the tawdry arts of a wanton woman…” As chilling as that appears, it looks like Portia Simpson Miller has long since brushed those unkind remarks aside. Say, what you may about Portia, she is not a Jezebel and Joan knows that. Portia is forgiving, not forgetful, but she does not embrace trivialities for long.

Given the excursus, it is understandable why some in the PNP are upset with the party’s decision to accept and approve Joan Gordon-Webley’s membership, her being a recent unrepentant Labourite. We cannot forget our history because it helps to shape so much of the present. Joan Gordon-Webley successfully contested the 1980 General Election against Lloyd Stultz, who replaced McGann in the St Andrew East Rural contest. Joan has been in the race for quite a while and is not new to controversy, she always bounces back like the proverbial cat with nine lives. She, however, unsuccessfully contested the seat against Damion Crawford in the 2011 parliamentary elections.

Personally, I like Joan Gordon very much, she is one of the few politicians I admire for their sense of duty and steely determination. To me, she exudes a particular frankness that we could certainly use in Jamaica. Yes, she has an unabridged proclivity to “say it as it is”, and sometimes her cantankerous and irascible personality floats to the top when grace and tact would have been more effective. However, those traits are inimitably hers, and no one should “must and bound” her to change who she really is. As a manager, she strikes me as someone who gets the work done and as someone who is also willing to roll up her own sleeves toward that objective. If Joan can bring something of worth to the PNP, and ultimately to Jamaica and Jamaicans, it matters very little where she sits politically.

Burnscg@aol.com