A missed opportunity

Desmond Henry

TREASURE BEACH:

IN 1997 when the Peoples National Party won a record third-term as government, I wrote a column addressed to the Prime Minister titled "Power with a positive P." In it, I invited Prime Minister Patterson to seize the opportunity on the uniqueness of the situation, and to rise to a new level of statesmanship never before seen in Jamaica. Specifically I suggested that he consider putting in place the commencement of a series of regular meetings, discussions, consultations (whatever name you wish to give it) with Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, as a first step in providing a kind of cross-over relationship between the Government and the Opposition.

I pointed out that there were some likely areas in which, under our system, some exchanges might not be strategically possible. I named national security and defence as two examples.

The thrust of my proposition, however, was that by making the offer, the Prime Minister would be seen as taking the first step in a strategy of visible exchange, in a way that could only send positive and wholesome messages to all and sundry. How often the meetings should take place was to be a matter for agreed negotiations. The main thing was that they should be regular and visible.

The idea obviously was not bought, and today the country is saddled with one of the most embarrassing and diabolical efforts to have its Prime Minister and Opposition Leader simply sit down and talk about an issue that is ruining the country, its economy, its image, its psyche, its people and its reputation. Had the simple idea of on-going regular meetings been put in place, I doubt that the question of an emergency coming together on more thorny, complex matters would have appeared so hardened and impossible. And perhaps today the country might have been spared all the present elements of anger, hate and mistrust.

The Prime Minister's often used phrase is "one hand can't clap." I prefer the analogy of "it takes two to tango." In either case, the other hand for clapping or the other party for dancing has to come from somewhere. And that was my point - that Mr. Patterson should have considered using his high office in an act of statesmanship to invite the other hand to clap, or proffer his own hand to his proposed dancing partner. He makes the offer, or issues the invitation.

Historically the question of Prime Minister and Opposition Leader treating and sharing public respect for each other has had varying degrees of examples in the past. Bustamante and Norman Manley did it, so too did Shearer and Michael Manley. The exchanges were personal and informal, but almost always respectful.

My aim was to institute a more formal kind, as a means of creating an ongoing exchange of ideas on national issues that were more politically neutral, like education and health, for example.

It still remains a supreme exercise in absurdity, that a country as small and undertrained as ours, continues to engage no more than possibly only a half of its talent at any one time, because of strident political divisions. And you wonder why we haven't progressed further.

Hospital mistreatment

On Wednesday August 1 a fisherman neighbour of mine went to the Black River Hospital (about 20 miles away) to get some medical advice on a painful oversized bunion on one of his big toes.

He arrived at the hospital, registered along with others at the outpatients registry, paid $120 registration fee and was invited to wait until the doctor arrived. That was about 8:30 a.m.

The doctor arrived close to midday and began to see the patients according to their time in line. Close to 3.00 p.m. my friend, and others in line, were informed that the doctor was through for the day and would not be able to see any other patients. There were no offers of regret, no talk of rescheduling and no refund of the $120 registration fee. That was it. Tough luck. Forget about distance travelled, time wasted, and inconveniences suffered. All were upset, with some threatening legal action.

I have offered to raise the matter publicly and to invite Minister Junor to investigate this as scrupulously as possible, to see that some sense of responsibleness, justice or rebuke is invoked. Can you believe it?

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Sometimes what is termed a lie, is nothing more than premature truth.

Desmond Henry is a marketing strategist based in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth.

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