We were drawn to the headline, ‘Ex-model who ‘dissed’ minister’s wife sent back to mental hospital’ ( Caribbean Media Corporation , Kingstown, St Vincent report in the Jamaica Observer , January 23, 2018) as it seems a wicked act. Then, Member of Parliament Derrick Smith is to resign after 40 years in Parliament and his parting shot is: ”My son, Duane, who is a two-time councillor in the constituency, one who has been meticulously prepared by me to replace me, is my personal choice. He is the one I am supporting full hundred.” ( The Gleaner , January 23, 2018) so we saw a link. The St Vincent and Grenadines news reported Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves’ wife in a tiff with a lady — an unravelling of the Gonsalves political dynasty? Derrick Smith is starting one.

A poor, 22-year-old fashion model, Yugge Farrell, was sent to the madhouse by a judge for calling Karen Duncan Gonsalves a “dirty bitch”. She pleaded not guilty; so she must be mad — yeah? We see no gender or rights entity in Caricom protesting this travesty. Is anyone listening? The University of the West Indies should study the impact of a family of Members of Parliament on a democracy and a justice system. The powerful Gonsalves father-son political tag team is neat, but “Judge Pompey’s decision to grant the prosecution’s request (send her to a mental institution) in the absence of any supporting argument has led to widespread debate about the functioning of the judiciary in St Vincent and the Grenadines.” ( Observer, January 23, 2018)

Is there injustice here?

Yugge says they had an affair and “the finance minister has remained mum about the allegation, and Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has said that he has advised the minister — who is also his son — to delay comment and maintain a dignified silence”(CMC report op cit). The lady is now in the madhouse and “the prime minister has been commenting on various radio stations about Farrell’s arrest, arraignment and the court proceedings. The prime minister, who is a lawyer and minister of legal affairs, has gone so far as saying that a magistrate can decide to commit someone to the psychiatric hospital based on information that the prosecutor gives the magistrate outside of the court proceedings and which is not disclosed to either the defendant or to their lawyer” ( iWitness News, St Vincent and the Grenadines, January 24, 2018). Is this conduct normal for a prime minister or legal affairs one? No women’s group in Caricom helped Yugge or her pro bono lawyer when a powerful political dynasty hovers over her?

Here, in Jamaica, we were blown away by Member of Parliament Derrick Smith’s anointing his son to take over his public service job. The plantation is alive as some politicians bequeath constituents to their kids. Academics blame slavery for this, but what of men who do not support their kids or put their names on a kids’ birth certificate? Can we teach our kids responsibility when adults demonstrate none?

The Gonsalves nation seems quite like the Smith’s plantation. Duane Smith may be worthy, well-schooled, entitled, and well-heeled, but did Dad say what he brings to national governance of such value that he should sole-source the Member of Parliament’s job?

A Member of Parliament does not represent a constituency. We feign democracy for 55 years with this fallacy. Prime Minister Andrew Holness needs good help, so whoever he wants will be selected for St Andrew North Western, and the People’s National Party would do no less.

Duane is in pole position and must prove he can add more value to Cabinet or ease a national woe better than his rivals. On principle, all should have a shot at the job, as neither Derrick nor his 40-year cronies gave us growth or peace. Is he sorry for leaving us in this murder mess? The job is well paid; has no special qualification, no job description,no performance targets, no retirement date. The idea of a Member of Parliament coming from or living in the constituency is pure fiction.

A constituency is an election unit; a consumption base mainly. Production is not reported by constituency (it should be) as they are liabilities and all have problems — crime, jobs, housing, roads, nutrition, etc. Wise voters want a candidate with star quality as a constituency benefits if a Member of Parliament adds value to Cabinet or a parliamentary committee and may suborn more resources than one who merely ‘represents’ people. A Member of Parliament with personal leverage is crucial, and constituents will accept any candidate who can attract resources.

Derrick shamelessly mimics an imperialist bequeathing his “plantation” and may compromise his son, so we worry Duane may be branded. Still, we need young political representatives to break with old culture, not support it.

Derrick’s rant about Nigel Clarke is sad — what’s the full slate? Nigel has a great career, personality, ideas, and opinions in statecraft and leads in voluntary service. He adds value to a Cabinet and has business leverage to help a constituency — what’s to complain about? Derrick did not promote his son’s virtue or expertise or give him a principled launch — it may be his illness, as he knows better.

Some Members of Parliament have kids who speak out, are admired, but not drawn to politics. We must attract them. If you want to be a local councillor, fine; but this grub work is no longer a shoo-in to a House of Representatives job, as we have educated youth with corporate experience to compete for seats. So youth, get a job in a big firm and do well as public entities use systems of big business; build the experience. Stay conscious!

Franklin Johnston, D Phil (Oxon), is a strategist and project manager; Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK); and teaches logistics and supply chain management at the Mona School of Business and Management, The University of the West Indies. Send comments to the Observer or franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com.