NEWS: Letter of the Day | Jamaica Deserves Better, not Banality

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Please allow me to express a particular concern about the upcoming general elections and the conundrum surrounding the choices presented to the electorate, the “sovereign” people. Yes, we await the manifesto of each political party, and that should help the electorate to choose wisely. But, more importantly is the character of those presenting themselves to hold in trust our future for the next five years.

I mention this concern in light of an article submitted to The Gleaner – titled, ‘Banality of greed in Jamaica’s governance’, published on August 10 in In Focus is most apropos at this juncture of our political and civic life. The author, Dr Dennis Minott, refers to well-known philosopher Hannah Arendt’s caution on greed expressed not only in the monstrous but in the mundane.

He wrote, “And here in Jamaica, the mundane has become terrifying. Greed wears a tie, drinks Fiji water, commutes by helicopter, and drives a Prado. It sits on boards, gives speeches about nation-building, and receives honours. It is photographed in churches. It proclaims fidelity to God ... while, perhaps, quietly ensuring personal gain.” This is a greed that is most dangerous because it is clothed in “respectability” and difficult to detect.

This observation is frightening, especially at this time of our journey when we are to select competent, honest and service-oriented parliamentarians to govern in the name of the people. Why are we to be particularly concerned? We are faced with a dilemma: The Integrity Commission had gone on record saying that there are at least eight current parliamentarians whose statutory declarations have not been certified. How, then, can the electorate go to the polls to vote intelligently and with a clear conscience on current members on both political sides without knowing their honesty and financial status? It’s like “ buying puss in bag!” Such a dilemma could be one of the reasons for apathy among most of our citizens. This highlights the need to unmuzzle the Integrity Commission so that the electorate can know who is who and to vote intelligently with some measure of confidence in their representatives.

We pray that the next government will address this anomaly that perpetuates camouflaged greed and impedes genuine nation-building that is enshrined in the values that are clearly expressed in our National Anthem. Jamaica, land we love, deserves better, not banality!

by MOST REV DONALD J. REECE

Archbishop Emeritus

of Kingston

August 29, 2025