FAR from being dead, the matter of constitutional reform is alive in Jamaica. One can question whether it is comatose or on a life support machine. But, nevertheless, there is still some breath, and a pulse can be detected.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness expressed his frustration in his contribution to the budget debate in March. He spoke of the perceived efforts of the People’s National Party (PNP) to stymie the work of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC), almost to the point of accusing it of sabotage. The PNP has stopped attending meetings of the committee because it wants discussion on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to be included in this first phase of the reform. However, this posture has been rejected by the Government.

It is precisely this political manipulation that speaks unerringly to the flawed process that has been embarked upon by the politicians in conducting these discussions. The cass-cass that has emerged has confirmed once again that politicians should not be in charge of the process. With the divisive politics that we practice, there should be no surprise that such a delicate matter as constitutional reform, in their hands, and at their direction, would run up against serious stumbling blocks.

Some of us, from the very beginning of the process, have criticised the approach, which is essentially government-centred and not people-centred. If members of the CRC are honest with themselves, they would admit and perhaps apologise to the people of Jamaica for not truly taking them into their confidence; for not doing the work that was necessary to seriously engage them in the matter of constitutional reform, and for not undertaking the extensive work that should have been done before their submission of a first report to Parliament. I have no doubt that they must have congratulated themselves on the work they did to make this submission, even though they failed to robustly engage with the ordinary Jamaican.

One does not want to be unduly critical of the work of the CRC. There are members who have given valuable time to meet and seriously deliberate on the subject. But it cannot be emphasised enough how seriously disconnected the committee has been from the concerns of ordinary Jamaicans in this matter. As much as one hates to say this, one has to opine that the committee comes across as an elite group, well meaning and well intentioned, but lacking a real appreciation of its mandate, which is to communicate with Jamaicans, in every nook and cranny of the island, to get them seriously engaged in the subject. A few eclectic town halls and meetings among themselves do not meet the criteria of this imperative. If the Opposition wanted to abandon the committee, this deficit would have been a more significant reason for its withdrawal from the process.

Some of us in civil society will not rest until we see this level of engagement with the Jamaican people taking place. After all, it is their business that we are talking about. Let us hear what Jamaicans think about their final appellate jurisdiction — whether all politicians who want to lead us, from councillor to prime minister or president, should be directly elected by the people; whether our elected representatives in Parliament should be made Cabinet ministers or be present to give serious service to their constituents.

The question must be seriously asked: Why is it that out of a population of three million people certain individuals think they are entitled to certain portfolios, so much so that whenever their party is in power they look forward to being placed in that office? And it does not matter how they have conducted themselves in the past. There is no fresh blood, and no fresh thinking. It would appear that, for some, the trappings of ministerial office are more important than giving service to their constituents, without whose vote they would not be in Parliament in the first place. These and many other considerations have to be placed on the agenda.

Corporate Jamaica and other interested groups in the country, such as the churches and professional bodies, must get engaged in the process. They must be a part of fashioning the kind of Jamaica in which they want to live, a Jamaica with the just and democratic framework of governance which we richly deserve. If we miss the opportunity that this moment presents to get things right, I do not think we will have another time in the near future to do so. We cannot squander this opportunity by playing political football with the fundamental interests of the people of Jamaica. There is not much, if anything, that will be done in the middle of a general election season. But expect the politicians to trade barbs with each other as each side tries to lay blame at the altar of the other for what has gone wrong with the process. But we the people will not be fooled.

Brutal murder of Kelsey Ferrigon

The brutal murder of nine-year-old Kelsey Ferrigon has shocked the conscience of the nation and sparked outrage among every well-thinking Jamaican.

She was sexually assaulted and tragically murdered in Spanish Town, and her body dumped in a barrel. A person of interest, Giovannie Ellis, a repeat sex offender, was found dead in Clarendon.

It is not easy for the human mind to wrap itself around such brutality, especially to a child. We have gone this route many times before, but every new brutal revelation does not make it any easier for us. While it is good that we are outraged and our consciences shocked by these occurrences, each citizen must do everything in his or her power to see to it that these things do not happen and we ferret out the offenders so that they can face the law. People committing such offences, especially against our young, must be given no room for comfort in the communities to which they often return.

My condolence to the family of young Kelsey.

It is difficult for us to enter into the depth of your grief, as it is inexplicable the pain you are going through. Nonetheless, I pray God’s strength for you at this time of indescribable grief.

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 hosts a podcast — Mango Tree Dialogues — on his YouTube channel. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or stead6655@aol.com.

Raulston Nembhard

Participants in one of the town hall meetings hosted by the Constitutional Reform Committee

A photo of slain nine-year-old Kelsey Ferrigon is shown on this cellphone placed in the middle of candles laid out in the shape of a heart on her desk at St John’s Primary School in St Catherine on Monday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)