Without efficacy, democracy is dead. The same is true of all the other primary systems of government — monarchy, theocracy, oligarchy, authoritarianism, and dictatorship.

It is conspicuous — perhaps except to the politically dumb, deaf, and blind — that democracy is losing its ability to produce the desired, intended, and expected results for the majority of people globally. This reality is the major reason democracy is in retreat and is being dethroned in some countries. Unless democracy straightens up and flies right, and does so ‘quick and fast’, as we say locally, the rise of the far-right and other extreme systems will continue to accelerate rapidly. That is regression.

It bears repeating, people elect a Government to get things done in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Individual benefits are crucial to the preservation of a social contract. In return for the certain and consistent satisfying of, especially, individual’s immediate and aspirational needs, citizens entrust confidence in a Government. This adhesive of confidence glues society together.

The days of “alli button wuk fi nutten” are over.

In my
The Agenda column of September 14, 2025 I said this: “The JLP [Jamaica Labour Party] would be forced to call an early general election if it did not deliver on its commitments three years into a new term. If the JLP does not quickly fix its Achilles heel of politics it can kiss the delivering of its commitments goodbye.”

What was the weakness discussed? With reference to a findings of the late Professor Carl Stone, I noted that: “The JLP today still suffers from a consequential imbalance between its strength in good governance and its weakness in the administration of politics. This weakness needs to be quickly relegated, and eventually sidelined. Why? Recall last Sunday I drew on two famous works by Max Weber, celebrated German sociologist. Weber famously said: ‘Parties exist in a house of power.’ This means to win and/or retain State power. Minus that house of power to exist in and political parties soon wither and then die. This is a settled matter in politics. Without equal attention and adroitness regarding governance and politics a major political party will be in Opposition more often than it forms the Administration. Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States of America, said in 2009: ‘Elections have consequences.’ Political gravity is inescapable. It is a settled matter in politics too.” Is suh di ting set.

Here is another reality that the governing JLP cannot escape. Many Jamaicans will soon forget that nearly eight months ago, one of the most deadly and powerful hurricanes in recorded history landed on our shores. If the Andrew Holness-led Administration does not appreciably increase its delivery so that many more ordinary Jamaicans feel it in their pockets and see it on their dinner tables, the legitimate cry of a critical mass will quickly become: “The hurricane gone and pass long time, and JLP nah seven nor 11.” This will signal that the Administration is failing to produce the desired, intended, and expected results. Once this political haemorrhage begins, the Opposition and its confederates, who masquerade as civil society, will begin to circle 24/7. Their attacks will be deadlier than at present, and calls for an early general election will become inevitable.

Nearly a year into its third-straight term at Jamaica House, the ruling JLP still has not adequately corrected its Achilles heel — that is, its historical and ongoing imbalance between its strength in good governance and its weakness in the administration of politics. This defies common sense and begs an important question: When will the ruling JLP achieve the necessary balance?

Consider this: ‘More money unspent — Only 23 per cent of $1-billion Solidarity Programme spent nearly a year after launch’. The Jamaica Observer item of May 28, 2026 said, among other things: “Members of Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) were left perplexed on Wednesday after officials revealed that only 23 per cent of the Government’s $1-billion Solidarity Programme had been spent nearly a year after its launch.

“The disclosure triggered concern among members of the committee, particularly against the backdrop of continuing economic hardship and growing complaints from constituents who had expected assistance under the programme.

“The Solidarity Programme was announced in June 2025 as a $1-billion emergency social intervention aimed at assisting vulnerable Jamaicans including [the] elderly; low-income informal workers; people with disabilities; and young adults between 18 and 35 who were not employed, in school, or receiving training.

“Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Dione Jennings disclosed that the programme received more than 18,000 applications but only 11,521 people were approved for payments totalling approximately $230.42 million. That figure represents just over 23 per cent of the programme’s original allocation, meaning approximately $769.58 million remain unused.”

The governing JLP clearly dropped the ball here. This failure is particularly heartbreaking because hundreds of Jamaicans desperately need the mentioned benefit. Failures like these are eroding the ruling JLP’s strength in governance. Among other things, if the JLP wants to tame malignant bureaucracy, it must confront and fix its very glaring weakness in political administration. It is urgent!

IT’S A GOOD LOOK

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for land titling and settlements Robert Montague making his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives recently. (Photo: JIS)

Last November, I started highlighting what I described as the rather lacklustre scoring rate of three ministers: Robert Montague, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for land titling and settlements; Audrey Marks, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for efficiency, innovation, and digital transformation; and Dr Andrew Wheatley, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for science, technology and special projects. Based on runs (evidence) on the board now, I can safely say they are scoring freely. I like brisk scoring.

Consider this: “More than 700 residents of St Elizabeth across 34 communities are now proud landowners under the government’s Systematic Land Registration (SLR) Programme.” (
Jamaica Information Service, December 13, 2025)

Montague hit a delightful six here. Why? These 700 citizens did not receive certificates of possession. That was the modus operandi of another Administration some years ago. As I understand it, a certificate of possession is a kind of ‘6 for 9’, as we say locally, because it does not prove that you actually own the property. The administration that pulled the wool over the eyes of dozens of citizens some years ago by giving dispossessed, despondent, and displaced people mere certificates of possession — perpetrated a despicable piece of trickery. That deception must never be repeated.

At the mentioned function Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness noted that, “Land titles are instruments of economic empowerment and building blocks of a safer and more prosperous Jamaica. He reported that as of December 1, the National Land Agency (NLA) distributed some 9,577 certificates of title under the programme, of which nearly 6,000 were handed over in St Elizabeth.

“ ‘For many, this title is the first piece of paper in generations that definitively states this land is yours. It formalises the sacrifices made by parents and grandparents and opens the door to new economic opportunities,’ Holness stated.”

I agree.

Three Wednesdays ago, 124 citizens in Manchester received land titles from the NLA during a ceremony held at the Garden Hotel in Mandeville. This is an achievement, not mere announcement. It was an elegant four through the covers by Montague.

Audrey Marks, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for efficiency, innovation, and digital transformation, makes a presentation in the House of Representatives.

The Administration has indicated that it plans to deliver some 25,000 land titles to Jamaican citizens each year. If Montague achieves this target annually over the next four years, I believe it would be in order to erect a statue of him at Emancipation Park while he is still alive. I absolutely detest the practice of giving flowers to the dead.

“Higgins, you must be mad, some will below.”

No!

Last time I checked Jamaica had around 700,000 citizens living in what are euphemistically called informal settlements. These citizens are generally known as squatters, and where they live is often described as capture land.

There are also dozens of citizens who are living on lands where permission should never have been granted for construction. Hurricane Melissa has exposed some of these communities for all to see. Storms before did also.

Why is landownership for ordinary Jamaicans post political independence so important? Consider these snippets from the editorial of this newspaper of October 9, 2022, “In contrast, the freed slaves got nothing. They were left penniless, landless, with only the rags on their backs, and those who stayed on to offer their labour on the plantations were required to pay rent from their meagre wages. Laws were also passed making it illegal for the former slaves to own land.” This was a monstrous wrong.

Every self-respecting political Administration must pull out all the stops to correct this monumental wrong. In my
The Agenda column of November 23, 2025, I noted that: “Land settlement has always been a troubled spot, given our history of chattel slavery and colonialism. The passage of the hurricane has pushed the thorny matters of landownership and settlement to the fore, again. This is a good thing. We cannot continue to kick the can down the road.”

Dr Andrew Wheatley, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for science, technology and special projects (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Montague’s lively scoring on the matter of land ownership is a good look. I see that he has also scored some nimble twos, threes, and singles. He needs to keep his bat straight and make a century.

BETTER FOOTWORK!

Minister Audrey Marks is now much more positive in her scoring. When she came to the crease, she seemed tentative. Some say her cautious approach was because she was a newbie.

The bowling does not distinguish between newbies and experienced batters. The fielding team wants the batting side to capitulate: Score or get dropped.

The recent establishment of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) Learning Centre was an elegant four through the square. Dozens of Jamaicans are now receiving specialised training to deliver world-class identification services.

Marks recently spoke about Jamaica Post’s continued expansion of Express Mail Service (EMS) access across the country. During this financial year, EMS is being extended to an additional 44 locations, increasing its national footprint to 100 post offices. This means more small businesses, especially, will have reliable access to faster international shipping and global markets from closer to where they live and operate.

Marks’ footwork is much better now. This is a good look!

READING THE DELIVERIES

Dr Wheatley also started out rather tentatively at the crease. He has now settled in and is reading the deliveries much better, as evidenced by the runs on the board.

On his return to the Cabinet last September, he said, “Judge me on my performance.” Dr Wheatley has scored several boundaries. His championing of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to cut red tape in government operations is timely. Jamaicans are sick and tired of malignant bureaucracy.

Wheatley recently introduced the ‘House of Innovation’ framework and the consolidated R4D-JA Network to better unite universities, public bodies (such as the Scientific Research Council), and the private sector. I like the seriousness he has brought to the matter of data protection and privacy. If he steers clear of distractions he will score big.

Soon, I will examine who should stay or be dropped from the Cabinet.

PULL QUOTE

Many Jamaicans will soon forget that nearly eight months ago, one of the most deadly and powerful hurricanes in recorded history landed on our shores. If the Andrew Holness-led Administration does not appreciably increase its delivery so that many more ordinary Jamaicans feel it in their pockets and see it on their dinner tables, the legitimate cry of a critical mass will quickly become: “The hurricane gone and pass long time, and JLP nah seven nor 11.”

Garfield Higgins is an educator and journalist. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or higgins160@yahoo.com

Garfield Higgins