The 86th annual conference of the People’s National Party last Sunday was well attended by its members and supporters.

By all metrics, it is clear that the party had a good conference. It was well executed and supporters were in a jubilant mood as eyes were clearly turned to the general election that will be held in a year’s time. The party leader, Mark Golding, as could be expected, promised a new Heaven and a new Earth to the Jamaican people. He spoke of debt forgiveness for student loans, endorsing the Government’s removal of guarantors, among other things.

His suggestions as to what the party would do to reduce crime were elements of what both political parties have promised the Jamaican people over the years. But he might be on to something in the emphasis he placed on the community approach to crime fighting.

Strengthening community participation in reducing crime is pivotal, yet no concentrated attention has been paid to this by successive governments. Criminals come home to a community after they have committed their deeds. There should be no solace for them in doing so.

Intelligence gathering by the police must be optimal, coupled with working closely with community organisations, especially the Church, in giving people the support they need in so many areas of crime prevention. Helping parents to be better parents, conflict resolution mechanisms, and creating communities in which people can have a real sense of human dignity must be emphasised. Fighting crime has to engage a multifaceted approach. It is not all about kicking down doors and showing the might of law enforcement.

The appearance of Adidja Palmer aka Vybz Kartel on stage at the conference has evoked mixed reactions from across the country. Let me say that like any Jamaican he had a right to attend the conference. It was within the party’s remit to offer him any place of prominence they felt comfortable to give him. Apparently they were comfortable allowing him on stage, which was rapturously endorsed by the crowd.

It can be questioned whether the PNP’s timing on this matter was appropriate given the nature of the legal problems in which Palmer was involved that would cause many people to regard his presence on stage as negative optics. Additionally, some would question the contours of some of his lyrics and the “evil” nature of some of them as were adjudged by Opposition spokesman Peter Bunting in a lecture he earlier gave to the Jamaica Theological Seminary. In that lecture his views were not particularly complimentary of Palmer, and one has to wonder if he was in agreement with the prominence given to him at the conference.

My own thinking is that Palmer is on a journey of redemption. He has had a lot of time to reminisce in prison on the new path to be taken to consummate his redemption and become a strong member of a society in which he can influence, especially young men, for good. This would mean re-examining the lyrics of his songs to comport with the kind of civility and decency that one would expect from someone who obviously can exercise a strong influence on the young.

Appearing at important venues like the PNP conference may be a step in the right direction in this regard. Everyone is entitled to a second chance. The path to redemption is not always as clear-cut as one would want it to be.

Palmer must take advantage of any new opportunity that is afforded him to be the kind of person who can garner the respect of the Jamaican people while at the same time finding the personal peace for which his soul craves.

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life’s Storms; Your Self-esteem Guide to a Better Life, and Beyond Petulance: Republican Politics and the Future of America. He also hosts a podcast, Mango Tree Dialogues, on his YouTube channel. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or stead6655@aol.com.