BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE People’s National Party’s Parliamentary Representative for North West St. Ann in Jamaica, Dr. the Hon. Dayton Campbell, is of the view that political leaders should move away from the “Politics of Perception” and replace it with the “Politics of Change’.
The Jamaican politician was at the time delivering his presentation as the featured speaker at the 85th Annual Convention of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party held at the Marriott Resort on Sunday (May 21).
“My presentation today is entitled ‘The Politics of Change versus The Politics of Perception’. I want to say at the outset that our approach to politics in this new dispensation is that we don’t have opponents on this side or that side. Our opponents are the issues that confront our people.”
Dr. Campbell noted that the enemies of all politicians “are the same” and listed them, among other things, as: poverty; income inequality; illiteracy; injustice; crime and violence; poor housing; lack of opportunities for people, especially a nation’s youth; lack of equality with regards to quality health care; and gender inequality; among other things.
He provided an in-depth explanation to the large gathering on his view of Politics of Change and Politics of Perception.
“What then is this Politics of Change and Politics of Perception that I just alluded to? The Politics of Perception is the politics where leaders think a way to approach on policy direction and then magnify minute changes with public relations in an attempt to convey a positive outlook.”
That form of politics, he posited, “will not get us far as a people”, adding that it is a problem that spans far beyond Jamaica and St. Kitts and that it has unfortunately made strides across the globe.
Contrastingly, Dr. Campbell noted that “it speaks into the policy of change”.
Citing a statement made many years ago by a past Jamaican political leader, Dr. Campbell said, “I will start with a quote from a most celebrated world leader and former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the late, the Most Honourable Michael Manley, who stated: ‘Any realistic vision of change must be based on a notion of empowerment of people.’
“We here seek to be practitioners of what is to be a noble profession. Politics is the vehicle to deliver policy programmes to the wider society. Change is only truly realised when people are empowered; thus the Politics of Change is the politics of empowerment of our people.”
The MP proclaimed that while there are constituents who had supported specific political parties, which they believed would be best able to make their lives better, apathy had stepped in and many young people have become disillusioned with politicians.
He also spoke to the issue of participatory governance, advising that people must be involved in decision-making processes.
“Even though politics is about winning so as to implement your programmes and policies, it cannot be about winning at all cost. There are fundamental tenets which underline movements like ours. Those are participatory governance, integrity, nationalism and egalitarianism. Participatory governance must continue to involve the electorate in the decision-making process. Deal with the people as proven to be an unbeaten strategy. Democracy must never be limited to marking an X on a ballot every five years, but rather right to participate in any aspect of national and community life. The people must believe that they can take part.”
Dr. Campbell further advised that the people must believe that politicians are listening to them by means of consultations and focus group meetings.
Those factors, he pointed out, are important “because you are preparing to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people”.
He continued: “Everyone is therefore welcomed and there is a place for all and also a higher service. No one can deny the wisdom in the average man. And as members of various political parties, we must engage them and capitalise on this benefit. We must not only speak to our supporters during the times of elections, but we must remain on the ground with the people at all times.”
The theme for the SKNLP’s 75th Annual Convention was “Greater Strength Through Struggle”.
