The dangerous among us - Jamaica Observer

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A massive roadblock on Mountain View Avenue during the 1999 gas riot. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

“Y ou can’t love your country only when you win,” said Joe Biden, president of the United States of America. I agree. I would add, you cannot love your country and simultaneously want to see it crumble, because you believe its ruination will/might increase your chances of gaining State power.

Last week anti-Government demonstrations in Bangladesh turned deadly as evidenced in this headline, ‘Bangladesh clashes: 90 killed in anti-Government protests’, from British Broadcasting Corporation ( BBC ), on August 5, 2024. The news item noted, among other things. “At least 90 people were killed in Bangladesh on Sunday, amid worsening clashes between police and anti-Government protesters. The unrest comes as student leaders have declared a campaign of civil disobedience to demand that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down.

“Thirteen police officers were killed when thousands of people attacked a police station in the district of Sirajganj, police said.”

What was the cause of this fatal upheaval? The mentioned news item gave these details: “The student protest started with a demand to abolish quotas in civil service jobs last month, but has now turned into a wider anti-Government movement.

“Both police and some supporters of the governing party were seen shooting at anti-Government protesters with live ammunition. Police also used tear gas and rubber bullets.

“The total death toll since the protest movement began in July now stands at over 280.”

This is a country in turmoil.

But, right quick, some whose political antecedents are well known took to social media and wished upon Jamaica the deadly instability, displacement, dislocation, and death in ongoing Bangladesh. Their objective is clear to me: They believe that anything that will lead them or cause them to gain State power is best for them and Jamaica. These are dangerous people.

Those who have the knowledge must not sit silently and allow these power-crazed merchants to sell poison to especially the unsuspecting without challenge and renunciation. That is very dangerous.

The Storm Cone

“This is the midnight — let no star

Delude us — dawn is very far.

This is the tempest long foretold —

Slow to make head but sure to hold”

This is the first stanza from The Storm Cone , a celebrated poem by renowned English journalist, novelist, and poet Rudyard Kipling. Literally, a storm cone is a cone of canvas stretched on an elevated frame as a storm signal. Figuratively Kipling’s poem was a metaphor for Britain’s peril in the midst of the massive rearmament in Germany and the crazed obsession with power and “living space”, as Adolf Hitler termed his doomily planned expansion of Germany.

Though in the minority, Kipling, Winston Churchill, and several others repeatedly warned that Britain was carelessly and dangerously ignoring a mountain of evidence which proved that Germany was rapidly rearming. Too many heard but did not listen. Nonetheless, an insightful minority continued to constantly warn of the menacing threats posed by Germany’s megalomaniac leader, Hitler, and the severely, self-evident and deadly implications that his actions posed for the survival of Britain, the rest of Europe, and the rest of the world.

The warnings were proved right. Tragically, by the time Britain and the world started to listen it was too late. Some 75 million people died in World War II, including about 20 million military personnel and 40 million civilians, many of whom died because of deliberate genocide, massacres, mass bombings, disease, and starvation.

The message of Kipling’s The Storm Cone is pertinent: Pay attention to the storm cone, always. The direction and/or ferocity of the wind are real evidence of impending danger for the ship of State.

Some among us who seek high and low political office wish upon Jamaica the turmoil in Bangladesh. What can be more dangerous? These are traders in self-aggrandisement. Some wear very shiny religious garb. Some are well credentialled. Many pontificate that they have an unquenchable desire to uplift the poor. They are like ravenous wolves who promise unsuspecting sheep that when they get power they will become vegetarians.

SHADOWS OF THE PAST

“The student protest started with a demand to abolish quotas in civil service jobs last month, but has now turned into a wider anti-Government movement.” This bit of reportage from the mentioned BBC news item really jumped out at me.

Those who are wishing the turmoil in Bangladesh upon Jamaica need to do a little research to find out when Jamaica was afflicted with a debilitation resembling the quota system in Bangladesh and what were some of the consequences?

Let me help them, but more importantly help some of my younger readers who might not be aware.

In 1976, Dr D K Duncan, the minister of national mobilisation, said in Parliament: “In a Ministry of National Mobilisation in a socialist Government, it is very difficult to employ somebody who is not a socialist. I make no apology. Every single employee in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, his (sic) credentials as a democratic socialist are clear and pure.” Shocking? That might be the reaction of some who are seeing this quote for the first time.

For those who were following and warning about the severely treacherous and imminent winds, as evidenced in the direction of the storm cone, it was definitely not shocking.

Recall that after the general election in 1976 the People’s National Party (PNP) created a party Accreditation Committee, called the Pickersgill Committee of Political Purity. Its primary objective was screening of candidates to ensure that appointees were bona fide socialists, “politically pure”. Shocking? This was not a surprise to those who repeatedly warned about the direction of the wind signals from the storm cone.

Recall that in 1976 Prime Minister Michael Manley told Parliament, that “new and unique types of violence” had been imported into Jamaica and, therefore, the need for a state of emergency. This was declared on June 19, 1976. It lasted for nearly a year. Several Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) campaigner leaders, scores of seasoned party workers, and dozens of supporters were locked up, beaten, and/or imprisoned. Some were killed. Dozens were forced to flee their homeland in order to save life and limb. A commission of enquiry, headed by the then Chief Justice Kenneth Smith, was set up to look into the 1976 State of Emergency. The findings of the Smith Commission revealed that the state of emergency’s calling was predicated upon the facilitation of political opportunism and not genuine concerns about national security.

What was the overall result of the PNP’s systematic populating of the civil service with political acolytes? They did the bidding of their party to the detrimental of country. Incidentally, for those who love straw men, please don’t confuse people who are employed as part of the political cadre with the civil service. It is not uncommon for administrations globally to have key political posts staffed with individuals with complementary political values. There is a big difference between that prudent and globally accepted consideration and the systematic populating of the civil service — which is supposed to be an impartial set of talented technocrats — with rabid political actors like those Dr D K Duncan boasted of in Parliament in 1976. The terrible consequences of his actions are still present today.

BOOMERANG!

Common sense should tell all who seek high and low political office that it is very foolhardy, I think even politically suicidal, to wish violent and deadly displacement of administrations.

Be careful of boomerang we say in the rural parts.

A boomerang is curved stick that returns to its owner/thrower after being thrown. Seekers of power by any means necessary need to remember also that once the genie of violent displacement and/or national dislocation has been let out of the bottle, it is often extremely costly and/or impossible to put it back in.

For example, recall the very violent islandwide gas riots of 1999. An article in The Gleaner of April 28, 2009, entitled ‘Gas riot in retrospect’, delivered these details: “There was widespread rioting in April 1999 when Prime Minister P J Patterson announced that a 31 per cent gas tax would be imposed: From Morant Point to Negril Point, tires went up in flames and businesses were forced to close as Jamaicans joined in the infamous 1999 gas riot. Public transportation and the education system were virtually crippled, while the police force, the military, and the fire brigade worked overtime to contain the protests.

“Many commuters were forced to walk long distances as bus drivers and taxi operators abandoned their routes and parked their vehicles.

“The security forces, which were largely outnumbered by demonstrators, struggled to contain the situation and sometimes stood quietly by while the protesters had their way. During the mayhem, at least three members of the security forces were shot and injured and another four injured otherwise during demonstrations.

“A pregnant woman was also shot and killed. Several private and public vehicles were set on fire and some firemen were stoned while trying to put out the blaze. The demonstrations led to more than 100 arrests in the Corporate Area, St Elizabeth, St Thomas, Clarendon, St Catherine, and St James.

“The charges ranged from traffic obstruction, breaches of the Anti-Litter Act to simple larceny.

“Several tourists trying to get out of the country missed their flights due to transportation problems. Several flights and cruises into the island were also cancelled and resulted in about $30 million in losses to the tourism sector.

“The JLP [Jamaica Labour Party], which was in Opposition at the time, was also against the gas tax. Edward Seaga, the Opposition leader at the time, was invited to a meeting with Prime Minister P J Patterson. However, he turned down the request when Patterson indicated the gas tax would not be rolled back.

“As the protests drew to an end, Prime Minister Patterson set up a committee to examine the gas price hike and recommend adjustments. After almost a week Patterson followed the committee’s recommendations and cut the 31 per cent fuel tax in half.”

Those who are wishing a return to these frightful times to facilitate their lust for State power mean Jamaica no good. They are dangerous people.

Jamaica is not Bangladesh!

“It happened; therefore, it can happen again…” said Holocaust survivor and acclaimed novelist Primo Levi. The sordid events of 1976, the gas riots of 1999, and similarly costly and deadly episodes in our history can happen again.

Well-thinking Jamaicans have worked very hard to settle especially political disputes through discussions and compromise particularly over the last 30 years. We must never backslide. This is why individuals who have the knowledge have a duty to sound the alarm when the storm cone begins to show us ominous signals.

The blood, sweat, and tears of especially thousands of ordinary Jamaicans, and the steadfastness of administrations since 2010, have caused us today to be a global model of economic recovery and stability. Jamaica is not Bangladesh.

At the time of writing, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was selected to head Bangladesh’s interim Government. I wish them peace.

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