LOST LOVE: THE POLITICAL PRISM AND TRANSPARENCY

By Aubrey Campbell

NEW YORK, NY. Tuesday, February 11, 2020 – Friends and family. Greetings and salutations. Those who are keeping score will readily admit that the last twelve months or so, have seen an uptick in Diaspora news and views, from a government that is eager to unearth and unleash some of the untapped potential among nationals, scattered across the globe.

That groundswell of activism toward more robust engagement has come with some pushback, albeit and oftentimes, misunderstood!

So here we are, nearing the middle of the second month of the new year with the possibility of general elections being called and an electorate scared stiff for their safety!

I am revisiting this subject for a couple of reasons, all underpinned by recent developments in Latin America and the Caribbean – the region – accentuated by a loud-mouthed, meddling, undiplomatic Donald Tapia, and the visit by Donald J. Trump’s attack dog and Secretary of State (SOS), Mike Pompeo.

I have no doubt that if and when the election is called, that both major parties will seek to engage their Diaspora base – in Trumpian speak, of course!

The establishment of a Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and Dr. Peter Phillips’ visit last week to reconnect with Jamaica Progressive League in New York City and Hartford, must be seen through the partisan political prism, for what they are!

This is 2020…duh!

What will be interesting between this February and the next (2021), when the general election is constitutionally due, is how the electorate responds to that section of the manifesto dealing with public safety and the rule of law.

One side of the government favors zones of special operations and state of emergencies and the other side is more concerned about the protection of human rights! I get it and I also get the fact that the government of the day will be very concerned about holding on to power and so, most, if not all of its decisions and ‘calls’, will have an ‘expedient’ ring tone!

Go figure!

It is precisely for this case of myopia, why little Jamaica is now seemingly embroiled in the fight for its independent life, a geo-political gamble with very far-reaching implications, that is already tearing at the heartstrings of concerned Jamaicans in the Diaspora.

Crime and the cancer of corruption have gone unchecked and now our relationship with China, right under the nose of a once powerful and endearing paramour is threatening the very existence of our sovereignty.

For decades, Cuba bluffed Uncle Sam and his policy to destabilize.  And much later, Hugo Chavez would light the darkness, literally, of much of the Caribbean region with his sweetheart PetroCaribe oil deal. Now comes China with its masterplan for infrastructure development and suddenly, Jamaica’s relationship with the above is making life miserable for Tapia and his bosses at the State Department and the White House!

Is like ‘Queen B’ admonishing her former lover in the song, that he has only himself to blame for not coming forward and offering her the ring, so don’t go blaming ‘Jay Z’, for putting the ring on it! 

Haha

Pompeo’s visit did nothing to ease the growing tension in the region. As a matter of fact, those who are charting the course will confirm the exact opposite. Not only has it left CARICOM in a quandary, but national security concerns for Jamaica were met with very vague, evasive answers. And because SoS Pompeo refused to answer questions on the matter of the visa revocation for senior government members on both sides, you can bet it will be an issue in the campaign leading up to the elections.

The integrity of the nation, a sovereign state, is at stake. Transparency International (TI) knows so! That will be an issue, moving forward. Did Jamaica short circuit the regional integration movement by aligning itself, along with others, with Team Trump against Venezuela?

My two cents tell me that’s exactly how the beautiful, Mia Amor Motley, the Barbados PM and regional chair sees it! And as I have said in this space before, as well as on my weekly radio show, she is a breath of fresh air in leadership acumen, willing to call a spade, a spade!

I wish I could say she has balls!

The fact of the matter is that with a number of countries in the region now courting direct foreign investment with the offer of citizenship and China’s willingness to work with governments, at very little cost, the USA knows that its dominance in the region is waning, fast.

And that’s what is causing the malice!

Stay tuned…and best wishes for a Happy Lovers’ Day!

You have the floor!

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