YeKengalé

 Long-term problems generally require long term solutions which are best spearheaded by long-term leadership. 

But in our almost global rejection of dynasty, seen as the source of all evil, we seem to have settled for king-for-a-day governance rather than grapple with the hard task of people empowerment, the requirement for healthy, working democracies. Power still settles on top, but moves in quick succession before wholesale corruption comes to full bloom. 

So many civic associations with their one year presidencies fail to comprehensively accomplish in the long term.  4 – 5 yr. term  governments are rewarded by an additional term for good behaviour, but anything more is considered the return of Napoleonism. 

All with good reason, but the only snag is that we have become relatively incapable of long term developmental execution which now threatens future generations who might never find the batons buried in all this harried haste and equivocation.

Say what you will about the Vatican, but where else in the west can one find institutions that  have not just survived but flourished over millennia. Though this may sound like advocacy for the new surge in autocracy, what is actually being pointed out, on the contrary, is that short term ‘kings’ are as inimical to democracies as emperors for life. Until the ‘who’ that ‘sits on the throne’ is replaced by a ‘how’, Democracy’s work is not done.

Jamaica’s fairly longstanding problem of violent crime, in spite of the best and most up-to-date thinking of successive commissioners-of-police and justice ministers, certainly is incompatible with quick-fix thinking. The bloody murderous deluge to which the last three generations of Jamaicans have become acclimatised will require the sustained focus of at least the  next two or three generations to effectively address, and any short term deviation from the master plan along the way may very well effectively disturb the transformative potential of that focus. 

But is there such a master plan? Even the humongous social effort in arriving at consensus to draft the mid-term  MDG’s is already manifestly in constant danger of being thwarted by self defeating forces, as anyone who follows the process closely can attest. 

So where is the energy  to come from to see further and do more for longer?

These are the questions a society brave enough to consider re-digging its foundations and dabbling with big picture issues like constitutional reform should be asking itself. Such an exercise cannot be a meaningless diversion from the painful acceptance of  acquiescence to global power centers and structures seemingly set, unchangeable and impervious to the needs or challenges of small island people with purportedly small island minds.

But no. Jamaican dreamers have been shaping global reality for a long time.

Constitutions are visionary things, mostly crafted by the high-minded. Only leaders blighted by contempt for the people however, assume them to be blind without them (leaders, constitutions take your pick). This flawed perspective has infected the heart of the world’s most celebrated democracy, the USA, still, in the current moment, in a dangerous flirtation with its own unchecked autocratic impulses.

Jamaica may be a younger nation but history shows we have had even more ancient democratic impulses, if we are willing to look at ourselves not solely through the lens of ‘oppressed vs oppressor’ class but through the equally illuminating lens of ‘classes of initially unequal agency, constantly renegotiating their fate, based on balancing self-interest with a vision of the common good.’

Our anthem asks vision for our people. All it asks for our leaders is the wisdom to recognise and respect where vision comes  from (God) and whom it is given to (the people). That Jamaicans are a visionary people seems to be recognised the globe over. Only local leadership at times seem unconvinced.   

 A common flawed notion of misguided leadership is that such things as national plans and constitutions only come into existence when written down; but Einstein did not create relativity, he merely observed it and wrote his imperfect impressions down. Likewise National plans and constitutions are imperfect objectifications of the very real aspirations of a people. The document(s) may have to be tweaked or changed, but what is more real and constant is also invisible, requiring wisdom to discern. The high-handed may be too high-minded to perceive same.

I have been wondering much if this might be Mr Nigel Clarke’s problem. No one seems to question his genius, a thing beyond personal, family or party  pride. The entire nation is proud of this young man’s accomplishments. So what could cause then such a brilliant mind to make such poor people decisions? 

I know most people may imagine I speak of the absolutely contemptuous manner people attribute to him and his government in determining priorities of salary allocation. But the matter that has relentlessly perplexed me, though similar, is by far, more important in my perception, as it deals with two vital elements of the  long term solution to our country’s most pressing crime problem: youth and music.

I don’t expect many to share my intuitions on music. The subject (The Anthropology of Music) is generally so poorly understood, the hopes of fixing this with one article, or book is dubious indeed. But for Jamaicans, whose prowess in the field has already established her as a global leader, we very much do need to study and understand ourselves. But this is not that space. To further explore that space may I recommend:

I came to understand in the last two weeks the cultural catastrophe Mr Nigel Clarke appears to be glibly unaware he has created in what can only be described as the tremendously reckless decision as the group’s Financial Controller, to allow the National Youth Orchestra (NYOJ) to become dormant now about two years post-Covid: Its program, which served a significant number of schools (over forty two … once growing) from seven centres islandwide (once increasing) has simply ceased to function.

 Staff has disbanded; fraternal and mentoring relationships been disrupted; its considerable inventory of instruments have seen significant depreciation (everyone knows what happens to unused musical instruments and skills), and a program which has proven results as an effective interruptor of cycles of poverty and crime  – (known famously as El Sistema) has been allowed to disintegrate or at least significantly atrophy, and, for as far as I have been able to discern, the sole reason being that Mr Clarke has not made himself available to sign cheques and will not allow for other signatories to sign them without him … even under pressure of persistent pleas and even board member resignations. – the kind of story one would expect from the stereo-typical, careless politician who can’t manage money.

I don’t understand Mr Clarke, nor will I be his final judge and I expect others unaware of the value of the arts to long-term national development  to be clueless of the dimension of scandal opened up in my inquiry; but I am writing from Regardless, former home of Norman and Edna Manley, the very symbol of the role that the marriage of politics and the arts plays in the foundations of this nation. I cannot share their illusion.

Our reformation as a people will not come from the stroke of a pen, including Mr Clarke’s, but all of us must rise to our responsibilities to cherish the weak. Music is all some of us get to get ahead in life; and … as especially we Jamaicans have ably proven, it is more than adequate to put us way ahead of the pack.

Why would so valuable a program be so disdainfully treated? How does that serve the people?