Possibly the most enduring slogan coming out of Jamaica’s vote-buying electioneering is: It takes cash to care. This is to an extent still our tradition.

Even as we congratulate the victor, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Dr Norman Dunn, we can, with some amount of candour and humour, acknowledge that spending featured in Monday’s by-elections, particularly in the constituency of St Mary South Eastern. Dr Dunn, I believe, should not disagree.

The Government has admitted to spending some $250 million on infrastructural works in the long-neglected constituency. The Opposition People’s National party has put the figure closer to $500 million.

Member of Parliament and former Cabinet member Ronald Thwaites, in one of his regular newspaper columns, described from personal experience the discredited electoral process in which he is a participant, but has failed to or is unable to change. This is in part what he wrote: “The crowds attending the Nomination Day exercises for the by-elections were large and enthusiastic — on a weekday morning when people (who have work) are normally at work. But to what end? The reality is that whosoever wins the three seats that are in contest, whatever the balance in Gordon House, life is going to be substantially unchanged for those crowds. Disappointment for them is inevitable.”

A lose/lose proposition, if there ever was one.

Only God can deliver us from a deceptive and entrenched culture of politicians over-promising when on the campaign trail and under-delivering when in office. With the help of scripture we may find a fresh approach to solving and age-old problem in which cash is used to buy favour with the electorate, but to no avail.

Acts of the Apostles, chapter 3, verses 1 – 7 relate the story of Peter and John who came to the temple to pray. At the gate they encountered a man, lame from birth, who was laid there daily to beg alms of those entering. Seeing the man in his pitiful state, Peter uttered words that have echoed across the centuries. “Silver and gold have I none. But such as I have, give I thee.” (verse 6 KJV) I would like to think that Peter gave the man cash, whatever the currency of the day was, he got C-A-S-H.

C is for compassion, which has a quality beyond feeling sorry for people. Jesus was moved with compassion to miraculously feed a multitude numbering over 5,000 people with a few fishes and loaves (Matthew 14: 14 – 20).

A is for association. To truly love people is to associate with them. Jesus was accused of associating with publicans and sinners, the outcasts of the day (Luke 15: 1 – 2).

S is for selflessness. Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan who offered assistance to a man who had been robbed while travelling a lonely road, beaten and left for dead. He used the parable to teach the principle of good neighbourliness (Luke 10: 30 – 36).

H is for heart. Without a heart like Christ, one will not be able to show the compassion, demonstrate the association or practise the selfless love taught by the scriptures (Acts 13: 22).

C-A-S-H speaks to the attributes of Christ, which open doors to miracles and can change the direst circumstance to one of hope. In the Acts 3: 1 – 7 story, Peter took the lame man by the right hand (the place of favour in the scriptures) and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

There is a lesson in this for non-government and not-for-profit organisations, and an even bigger lesson for politicians and an electorate caught in the unproductive and demeaning relationship of needy people being given a few dollars to ‘eat a food’ today, but no better tomorrow to look forward to. Indeed, it takes C-A-S-H to truly care.

hmorgan@cwjamaica.com