Holness Wants New Political Culture to Emerge

KINGSTON — Prime Minister, the Hon. Andrew Holness, has called for broad-based participation by Jamaicans at home and overseas, to improve the political culture and the process of governance.

In a wide ranging inaugural address, following his installation at King's House on Sunday (October 23) as Jamaica's ninth and youngest Prime Minister, Mr. Holness lamented the “politics of exclusion", characterized by restrictions on freedom of expression by unscrupulous elements, particularly in certain communities.

This, he noted, has increasingly discouraged a significant percentage of independent-minded Jamaicans from participating in a political process “they consider tribal and un-thoughtful”. Consequent on this, the Prime Minister said some of the nation’s best talents avoid public office “out of fear of being tainted by association”.

Mr. Holness stressed the need for changes, which, he argued, will not occur overnight, but rather, require a national commitment to the emergence of a new political culture that will “endear our best talent”.

Such a culture, he reasoned, must be built on the supremacy of ideas and the public space for these to contend; a relentless focus on policies and less on personalities; action and less talk; and the principle of inclusivity and broad participation. He added that “the broader the participation, the better the quality of governance, the deeper the participation, (and) the better the efficacy of government”.

Lamenting that, for too long, the society has been distracted from the "seriousness of our problems” by petty politics, the Prime Minister stressed that the civility of the politics, displayed by both political parties, “must improve".  In this regard, he urged the nation to pledge to elevate the standard of political discourse, adding that “our leaders must transcend petty, mean-spirited, tear down politics”.

The time has come, he added, to erase the lines of demarcation that created garrisons, to open the doors that exclude, and transcend the pettiness that has distracted us.

"I make an appeal to all well-thinking Jamaicans, both here and in our beloved Diaspora, who would want to see this new culture emerge, to join the process. If talented people make themselves available, I will make space for you on this government. Jamaica needs her sons and daughters in the service of the public good, now, more than ever," Mr. Holness implored.

By Douglas Mcintosh, JIS Reporter