Despite being shunted to the dustbin that awaits all so-called third parties in Jamaica, the National Democratic Movement (NDM) embraced and posited a number of ideas and policy positions which, had they been implemented, would have taken Jamaica to a better place, in terms of its political culture and governance structure.

Unfortunately, not only was its main messenger Bruce Golding “killed” politically when he led that fledgling party into the 1997 General Election, not being able to pick up even one seat, but its message was also derided and dismissed as flights of fancy. However, now that Jamaica is desperately in need of constitutional reform as both the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) are desirous of transforming this nation into a republic bereft of the British monarchical trappings, it behoves every well-thinking Jamaican to revisit the vision and core values of the NDM, not so much to encourage its resurrection but to infuse some of its philosophy into the body politic with the hope that we do not end up with a bastardised form of democracy that only sets out to suit the narrow, partisan intentions of either the JLP or PNP, oftentimes described as two tribes perpetually at war over scarce benefits and spoils.

The NDM was officially launched in October 1995 at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston with much fanfare and enthusiasm. Incidentally, as an aside, this writer played a role on that historic occasion, delivering the vote of thanks. Its aim was to advocate for fundamental changes to Jamaica’s political system. The party was actually formed by Brascoe Lee and Bobby Marsh who then invited Bruce Golding, formerly a chairman of the JLP, to become the first president. At that time Golding was likened to the apostle Paul (then Saul) who underwent a major transformation on the road to Damascus as his eyes were opened to the “evils” of the first-past-the-post system of which he had been a part and to which he has subsequently returned, leaving the NDM to suffer slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune.

In retrospect, it can be stated with much gusto and conviction that, notwithstanding its disastrous showing at the polls, the NDM was right on many fronts. This opinion can be substantiated by revisiting the party’s 12 core values, namely the sovereignty of the citizens; strict separation of powers; term limitation; fixed election date (removing the advantage of a governing party); dismantling political garrisons; establishing constituency assemblies; securing the safety of the people and an efficient justice system; taking the politics out of the police force; implementation of an energy policy to maximise solar power; establishing real local government (not controlled by central government); transparency for funding of political parties; and greater public participation on decisions on sensitive national issues.

Some cynics may argue that, in the final analysis,the NDM may have been seeking to reinvent the wheel but such issues as separation of powers, fixed election date, term limits, and local government reform are impatient of debate. Surely these are matters that should be part and parcel of any national debate as we contemplate wresting ourselves from the British monarchy. As it stands, the slow pace at which constitutional reform is being pursued would suggest that there needs to be a greater push coming from civil society and special interest groups such as the Church, academia, the private sector as well as civic and professional organisations because, from all indications, if left to their own machinations and manoeuvrings, it may take an inordinately long time before Jamaica becomes a sell-respecting republic.

Such low-hanging fruits as term limits and separation of powers must be tackled post-haste if we are to avoid becoming a creeping dictatorship or police State. In this vein, the burning issue of crime fighting has brought to the fore how much power the State should wield while not paying sufficient regard for the role of the judiciary with respect to protecting the constitution as well as the rights of citizens. Clearly, unless there is a clear-cut and irrevocable policy position with respect to adhering to the principles of separation of powers, a desperate, uncaring, and irresponsible Government could get carried away. Let us “tek sleep mark death”.

In this respect, the NDM, though comatose, may well see the need to arise from its slumber and, rather than remaining a political party which appears non-viable at this time, become a pressure group by attracting wide support for these core values which augur well for the establishment of a republic of Jamaica. One of the tragedies of today’s Jamaica is that too many citizens see everything of national importance through green or orange eyes and this blurs the truth and leads to intellectual stalemate or a state of political paralysis.

There is no question that the NDM was and is right on many of these issues that must be tackled if Jamaica is truly to become a prosperous, safe society in which the citizen forms the centrepiece of our democratic way of life and not political parties. In this vein, a provocative question may well be asked: Would the NDM’s former President Bruce Golding be willing to become a part of this urgently needed vanguard of change outside of the narrow, self-serving confines of a vote-catching exercise?

Without a doubt, a national debate bereft of any partisan trappings needs to be pursued so that the two elephants in the political jungle, the JLP and the PNP, do not, whether wittingly or unwittingly, trample on our hopes and aspirations of becoming a truly independent nation with a workable, respectable, and sustainable republic.

The NDM stated back then, in its fledgling years, “We believe that the Jamaican people need major reform in order to create a more equitable, stable society.” It is a belief that all patriotic Jamaicans must share. Let the debate begin!

Lloyd B Smith has been involved in media for the past 46 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as the Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lbsmith4@gnmail.com.