The Traditionalists versus the Reformists

By Paul Andrew Bourne, MSc. (candidate), BSc. (Hons)

It appears that Dr. Dennis Minott is likened to the statute at Emancipation Park, they are equally opened to genuine criticisms and lack relevance. Is it that the social realities of this society have not taught him the culture? He (Dr. Minott) is the last feather on the back of the ostrich. Why would an academic invite an external agent to mediate in the internal affairs of a party? Answer - the Traditionalists are losing on the battleground.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) it seems is unable to amicable settle internal issues with urgency, fairness and without bitterness. As such, people want unbiased remedy. Why crucify the King? Did you not see the crowning of the Christ or better yet, the most honourable Mr. Percival James Patterson as men at the helm? Dr. Minott's utterances have resurfaced the issue of campaign financing but this time with a twist. The academia of this country including Dr. Minott, have dropped the baton once more. If an individual is genuinely disappointed with a process, his/her accusation of another cannot be the route to take. This brings me to the issue; the Traditionalists within the JLP have lost their ability to plan effectively a comeback against the Reformists. The Traditionalists of the JLP are irate with the actuality that one of its faithful has lost an important top position. Now the response is a battle between the two (2) halves.

If Dr. Minott's decision to invite Mr. Blair is the only solution to an internal party matter, then the JLP top executive must recognize that this position is a milestone; and must have future implications as to how the party will handle issues. Dr. Minott is not to continue in his present representational capacity for having indicated to the party's top executive that they are incapacitated to deal with fundamental issues affect it. When a member of a party brings an internal matter to an independent adjudicatory, it speaks volume of the scope of the concerns between the parties involved. Therefore, the party (JLP) to which Dr. Minott is a member, is uncertain of its direction, when he was able to utter such a position that is not merely destroying, the Reformists but shows the childishness of a party that seeks peoples' approval at the next elections.

Notwithstanding the fact that the JLP top executives are predominantly Traditionalists, they need to understand that by having Mr. Blair adjudicate on any internal matter will reduce the party's autonomy. Hence, Dr. Minott must be beheaded with urgency as any simple matter from henceforth can and may be referred to an external adjudicatory. If the Most honourable Edward George Seaga was unable to have the party's executive excel Mr. James Robertson on such a fundamentally unbecoming practice, then how another person within the same party makes a case against the same individual without the party taking a principled position.

Despite the gentleman's lettered credentials and time spent acquiring the same, he should be made accountable for his severity of stupidity in setting in motion a sequence of bitterness in the mouths of the Jamaican publics. Even though an individual may prefer and or support Ms. Babsy Grange a traditionalist, ones resentment for Mr. James Robertson a reformist cannot be the basis upon which the gentleman's character and by extension the party's united is destroyed.

Dr. Minott has totally disregard party principles; and so gentlemen of the jury this matter must be addressed now. If the traditionalists including the most honourable Edward Seaga know of a single situation in which Mr. Robertson's camp was indeed associated with drug dons, then this information must be passed on to the police and the individuals involved be disbarred from the party with immediacy.

In an attempt to derail the process of the Reformists, Dr. Minott has belittled the party, mane the character of all past distinguished men and women of the Labour Party, and he has clearly shown the public that the JLP is thwart with primary school intellects. The future of the JLP presiding over the affairs of this country is declining in a geometric progression. Why would sane Jamaicans and intellectuals beyond the primary level vote for a Party to which individuals therein use either tainted money or associated with ?'vote buying'?

In concluding, are we saying that young persons of character and principled youths should not enter the JLP? Answer - with the character assassination of young people in the Party, no sane person should join the JLP. The Reformists and the Traditionalists are at it again but this time, the Reformists are ahead. Why? This time, the traditionalists must behead one of its own in the make of Dr. Minott. Because should he stand the Party would lose some of its autonomy and capacity to ultimately handle internal matters. In this battle for supremacy, the Reformists must ensure that person like Dr. Minott not be allowed to continue beyond the next six (6) months. Despite the fact that this is not a PNP issue, the Party is to ensure that this does not befall it in the future. The maze in which the Reformists versus the Traditionalists is locked appears not to be coming to a closure any time soon.