What Should Be The Program of The Opposition For The People of Jamaica?

 September 2, 2024

 “In The Beginning was The Word”

“A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots;” The Rt Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

“Of all studies, history is best qualified to reward our research,” Malcolm X.

The current socio-economic situation in Jamaica should not be alarming, as devastating, and deplorable as it is; however, the Country has been travelling along this path for the past 41 years, albeit at various levels. Ever since the defeat of the late Michael Manley Administration in 1981, the Country has undergone socio-economic experiences ranging from neoliberal Economic Policies, and a capitulation to international capital by the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP); to a conscious abandonment of socially progressive development by the Peoples National Party (PNP). Both Parties are responsible for the moral breakdown, social dysfunction and continued worsening of the plight of the working class in Jamaica.

For the country to free itself from the clutches of the domination of capital, especially foreign capital, and restore its cultural integrity, and pursue a path of progressive socio-economic development in the interests of the working class, it must first develop and or expand a mass organization with these basic principles as the foundation for social transformation. Critical in that transformation is the role of cultural and political education of the working class. The lack of political education enables corrupted politicians or those seeking elected office to manipulate and mischievously mislead the masses for their own benefit and that of a local oligarchy and international capital.

The Role of Political Education (The “Word”)

The most important reward of political education is that it prepares and educate the masses about the importance of self-determination; and it provides them with the mental capacity to firmly resist the expected retaliation by international capital and most importantly, provides the collective will to make sacrifices for the public good. One of the self-destructing mistakes the Manley Administration made was not to aggressively and consistently carry out a massive political education program, when imperialism was relentless in spreading false propaganda regarding what was taking place in the country, and the reason for the backlash. Former CIA operatives have admitted how extensive and effective their misinformation campaign was. The current Peoples National Party must learn from this costly mistake and develop a Program to also include “political literacy” the “lifeblood” of self-determination.

The Peoples National Party needs to fully understand the words of the late abolitionist and social activist Fredrick Douglass: “Power concedes nothing without a demand, it never did, and it never will; if there is no struggle, there is no progress.” The social history of the Jamaican people is filled with examples of victorious struggles resulting in creating liberation from enslavement and restraining the exploitative oppression of colonialism and capitalism. From the  resistance and revolts by the enslaved; the confrontation by the Maroons against the Spanish and British colonialists; the Morant Bay Rebellion; the labor strikes and uprisings of the 1930’s giving rise to the founding of labor unions, and ultimately influenced Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944. Both major Political Parties and Trade Unions are “birthchild” of all these struggles, which have undoubtedly brought some positive benefits to the Jamaican working class. The Peoples National Party seems to have conveniently been afflicted with “voluntary amnesia” based on their political lethargy over recent years.

The primary function of the parliamentary opposition is to safeguard and protect the democratic gains achieved by the working class through struggle. An opposition Party cannot ignore or be timid about struggle; the opposition must engage in vigorous social activism for adequate and quality Health Care, adequate and affordable Housing, a decent and livable minimum wage and, an efficient Public Transportation System among other basic social needs. An effective opposition cannot rely on winning elections by default, but by active participation in the day-to-day struggles of the working class.

Economic Dependency or Self-Determination – That is The Question

 Leading up to the last conference of the Peoples National Party (PNP) the slogan “time come” was filled with verbal enthusiasm but provided little in terms of what definitive practical steps, “time come” would take. From our standpoint, fundamental in this slogan should be economic transformation; transformation from the “industrialization by invitation” policies pursued by both PNP and Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) Administrations. There needs to be a break from the neoliberal, “trickle-down” policies which is not only misleading and a failure, but practically opens the door for further economic oppression and exploitation of the working class.

Included and a critical element of this economic transformation is the role of the government in structuring and monitoring the functioning of the economy, that it works in the best interests of the masses and not just the local oligarchs and the multinationals. The masses through organized labor, the Trade Unions, must be an integral part of this transformational process. If the goals of full and meaningful employment, eliminating wide-spread poverty, socio-economic equity, political independence, and primarily, regaining national integrity and psychological and cultural independence are to be achieved, control of the economy must be in the hands of the masses, not foreign multinationals, local oligarchs, or government technocrats.

It was reported that during the 1970’s when the destabilization hand of imperialism began to undermine the government’s social programs, it was a strong agricultural sector that saved Jamaica from bankruptcy; this crucial sector of the national economy must be decisively restored and occupy a prominent place in the local economy. A sizable portion of Jamaica’s Foreign Exchange earnings go towards important payments of food items that could be grown in Jamaica. Local farming must be encouraged, given government support, and expanded through the development of farming cooperatives. The small and medium-sized farmer has more to gain through the utilization of shared resources such as purchases, transportation, technology and the pricing of goods and services.

Finally, intrinsic in this economic transformation is the provisions for a disciplined and educated labor-force, at all levels. The Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) a “brainchild” of the 1970’s Jamaican Movement for the Advancement of Literacy (JAMAL) must be vigorously expanded and developed to create easy nationwide access by all. What is needed is a curriculum that provides not only academics but also “life skills” and Trades training; this lays the groundwork for increase in quality and increased production across the economy. A special emphasis should be made to reach out to youths and younger adults who did not have the opportunity to receive secondary education but are intelligent, resourceful, and able to make a meaningful contribution to social development.

Wanted: An Independent and Progressive Foreign Policy

For too long Jamaica has not seen a Foreign Policy that has reflected an enlightened and principled position on international issues; although the scientific community has emphasized that carbon emissions and efforts to curb such must be in effect by 2030 instead of 2050 as first considered; Jamaica at the COP 21 Conference got up to the rostrum and spoke about 2050, a backward and buffoonery position and one that shows a capitulation and kowtowing to the imperialist powers lead by the United States. To their credit the government has since revised their initial cutting carbon emissions target to reflect the prevailing science.

The state of international finance just like the Climate Crisis, does not favor member countries of the Global South; the current crisis of capitalism and its desperation to further secure and extract the most from those they already have, places increased hardships on the countries of the Global South. It was with this understanding that at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference held in Kingston in 1975 and chaired by then Prime Minister Michael Manley, the government leaders assembled voiced their commitment to organize, and mobilize for a united front to pressure the international financial institutions The World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) etc. to restructure their lending Policies as part of a new World Economic Order. Jamaica led by Michael Manley, Zambia under Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and Tanzania led by Dr. Julius Nyerere were instrumental in spearheading this movement. That was ideologically enlightened and committed leadership; that was leadership with a working class and oppressed peoples world outlook.

Jamaica once had a truly independent Foreign Policy; a Foreign Policy that was not opportunistic but reflected our cultural and historical realities and not influenced by foreign powers. Without question, Jamaica was clear and unapologetic about its solidarity with the oppressed peoples of the world, especially people of color. The parliamentary opposition has yet to take a principled and unequivocal position about taking the government to task about its complicity by silence and skipping the United Nations vote on the genocide now taking place in Gaza. It is clear that both government and opposition have chosen expediency over principle and humanitarianism.

 Paul Bogle Action Network (PBAN) is a group of concerned Jamaicans, helping to facilitate the development and nurturing of working-class organizations where absent, and where they exist, strengthen their focus. Questions and information request can be sent to: paulbogleactionnetwork@gmail.com