PM acknowledges lack of civility in political discourse

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he is concerned about the lack of civility in national and political discourse observed in recent weeks and has accepted the call for the leaders of the two main political parties to take responsibility.

 

The call came from Metry Seaga, President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), who said the group has consistently urged political leaders to elevate their standards of behaviour and speech in the political arena.

 

Addressing journalists at a press conference Thursday, Mr. Holness said he has publicly condemned the unprofessional conduct of some politicians and welcomes the call for greater civility. 

 

"I have been on record, particularly in the 2020 campaign. I've made civility a campaign issue. And I think we all have to agree that there has been a debasing of the national discourse to the point where you could say it is uncivil. And the leaders have a duty to ensure that they elevate the debate. Regardless of whatever political opportunism that they may see, there is still that duty and obligation to ensure that the national debate is elevated," he admitted. 

 

The utterances at constituency and divisional conferences have led to increased calls for the re-establishment of a Political Ombudsman to hold politicians accountable.

 

Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, in a statement, said the "appalling" deterioration in public discourse from some in the political sphere and positions of authority cannot be allowed to continue without clear denunciation.

 

 

The People's National Party (PNP) has conceded that it is sometimes difficult to manage negative commentary as they arise on the political platform.

 

But PNP Chairman Dr. Angela Brown Burke said party president Mark Golding is not afraid to reign in any member whose statements are not in line with its values.  

 

"Saturday and Sunday, there are several conferences, and sometimes in the week. So four or five times, you would be on a stage probably saying the same things. And so, sometimes it might become a little difficult for us to maintain the attention without being tempted to go past that line," she confessed. 

 

However, she said the party president has urged members to "leave the personal references out" when they are speaking on stage. 

 

"Let's talk about what people are doing, what people are seeing, what that means in terms of policy, what that means in terms of impact on our people, and what that means for the society that we are building," said Dr. Brown Burke.   

 

She also urged the public not to jump to conclusions after Mr. Golding was accused of nodding to a controversial statement made by a member of the party. 

 

"There are millions of conversations going on at the same time. So the fact that you might see somebody nodding their head or smiling, doesn't even mean that they're nodding or smiling at what is actually being said at the time. And it is part of that penchant to run to an interpretation that is negative, that concerns me. If the question is asked, it's one thing. But to run to those kinds of conclusions, I mean, it's worrying," she said.    

 

She was speaking Thursday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106 FM.

 

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica had expressed alarm at what it said was a display of vulgarity by PNP General Secretary Dr. Dayton Campbell at a political conference in North West Clarendon and Mr. Golding's apparent silence on the issue.