Tuesday’s fracas in Gordon House is a stark reminder that the Jamaican Parliament is fast becoming a microcosm of the wider Jamaican society. For my readers who are not familiar with the term — and I am not being condescending — Google defines a microcosm as a small place, society, community or situation that has all the typical features, qualities, and characteristics of something much larger. So, in other words, our Parliament is a slice of the Jamaican society.

Indeed, if one were to close one’s eyes and listen to what unfolded on the House floor as Parliament adjourned that afternoon, one could easily assume that it was a scene at Coronation Market or Cross Roads involving irascible individuals participating in a cacophonous “cass-cass”. Some of the words allegedly uttered, including that most frequently and famously used Jamaican insulting sentence — were most deleterious and, in some instances, have led to serious physical confrontations including murder.

Of course, in other dispensations long ago, particularly in Europe from which we have inherited our Westminster parliamentary system, the honourable gentlemen would have thrown down the gauntlet and challenged his respective offender to a duel at an appointed place and time. The choice of weapons was usually the use of guns and the encounter most times saw to the demise of one of the more unfortunate gentlemen. Today, apart from seeking recourse in the courts, aggrieved individuals may rightly choose to bite their lips or take the higher ground. Needless to say, that at the rate of which these verbal clashes have been occurring in that honourable House, who knows when verbal clashes will escalate to physical combat.

Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western Mikael Phillips (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Thursday’s Jamaica Observer’s front page headline read ‘Haunted House?’ Below are photographs of both the Opposition People’s National Party’s (PNP) House Leader Phillip Paulwell and the Jamaica Labour Party’s Government House Leader Floyd Green in seemingly (my perspective) duelling positions. Paulwell is quoted as saying that the repeated confrontations were rooted in how Parliament was being managed and the treatment of the Opposition. In Green’s case, he has posited, “I think what we have happening too much is that where a decision is made and it does not find favour with the Opposition, they resort to some form of protest.” So where does that leave us as a nation? Who should have the final say, and is there no room for mediation or a meaningful resolution to such a crisis?

Frankly, it cannot be business as usual, because the nation’s business is being caught up in this ongoing turmoil with no meaningful end in sight. Who will bell the cat? Isn’t it time our political leaders sit down at a roundtable and thrash this thing out once and for all? The painful truth is that the Opposition PNP Members are insisting that House Speaker Juliet Holness is treating them unfairly. They feel that they are being sidelined far too often, including the silencing of their microphones. And Member Dr Angela Brown Burke has gone further to raise the issue that the women on her side of the aisle are being treated in a condescending manner. These are serious allegations which should not be summarily dismissed and are deserving of of constructive attention.

But, alas, the humongous elephant in the room is the fact that, from day one, the PNP has not been happy with the prime minister’s wife sitting in that pivotal chair, having the power and authority of the Speaker’s gavel. This unresolved issue is at the heart of the problem and the potent question is: Should Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness revisit this vexing, seemingly untenable situation, or just let it play out with the possibility of some very serious consequences?

Member of Parliament for Kingston Western Desmond McKenzie (Photo: JIS)

Of course, in the final analysis, the old adage rings true, two wrongs do not make a right. To put it bluntly, our Parliament needs a full dose of restorative justice and the time should come when both Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding must sit down at a truth and reconciliation table. But, alas, for what it is worth, there can be no more Vale Royal Talks, as that historic structure now lies in ruins, perhaps in the same way in which the people’s business is now heading if this constant confrontationist approach continues in the Lower House of Parliament.

In the final analysis, a win-win scenario must be pursued. One-sided punitive measures, as are being proposed by the Government members, are somewhat disingenuous as it cannot be honestly stated that their side has been blameless. As we say in Jamaican parlance, “Teeth and tongue must meet,” and it is no secret that all over the world parliamentary sittings have been known to descend into verbal clashes and even physical altercations. And on other occasions, certain JLP Members of Parliament have been guilty of similar offences now being pinned on Member Mikael Phillips. I know because I was once a Deputy Speaker, so the kettle ought not to call the pot black, or vice vera! As the Good Book opines, “We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

The bottom line is that the people’s business must be conducted in an atmosphere of constructive deliberations free from calumny, character assassination, ungentlemanly and unladylike behaviour. Our elected representatives must be exemplary stewards of our democracy, not pillagers who pursue self-aggrandisement.

The nation is looking on and is yearning to see an end to this black eye on the face of our Parliament, which is supposed to be and must be an honourable House. What happened last Tuesday was horrible and should not be repeated. Let good sense and honour prevail.

Lloyd B Smith has been involved in Jamaican media for the past 50 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and a 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@gmail.com.