Is it okay with you? It shouldn’t be!

It is deemed normal for supporters of political parties to support what is done by leaders of their parties, regardless of how problematic and demonstrably unethical or unlawful such conduct may be.  Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the United States of America where the twice-impeached ex-President, Donald Trump, now on criminal trial and with other trials pending, remains a strong contender to win the next presidential elections. Throughout the period of his ex-presidency and since his announcement, at an unprecedently early date of his announcing his bid (timed to foil attempts at prosecuting him), Trump has polled neck and neck with President Joe Biden, and in some polls was ahead.

One must ask, how could a man facing credible criminal charges remain a strong contender for regaining power, in a country supposedly guided by moral values, with a strong Christian community, and an abundance of people who believe in the rule of law.  Many theories have been advanced to explain Trumpism and its pervasive influence even among evangelical Christians, who are deemed to be supportive of Trump because of his stance on abortion.  But even that explanation is suspect, for any keen observer will know that Trump holds no strong moral beliefs, and his “stance” is really a proclaimed position to play to the evangelical base.

If I had the opportunity, I would ask Trump loyalists whether it is okay with them that Trump should not be held accountable for his actions. Should a man who tried to overthrow the government, who exposed national security secrets (although I am not a supporter of America’s hegemonic agenda), and colluded with a foreign power to win election, and pursued a series of actions to remain in power despite the will of the people, be allowed to run for office again?

Should it be okay? It shouldn’t!

Trump’s history of bending norms then breaking laws

The stack of criminal charges against Trump has emerged after years of practice in bending norms, removing, or undermining guardrails, tampering with, or discrediting democratic institutions, and testing the limits of the legal system.  In short, what is now Trump’s criminal profile, even if it were expected, is not where it all begun.  His journey to this point may be characterized as a gradual but systematic evolution aided and abetted by people who were either afraid or complicit.

There are, no doubt, many lessons from the Trump era. I define the Trump era as the period of the commencement of his run for office, through his presidency, to today where he faces nearly one hundred criminal charges.  One of the most telling lessons of the American political story, in the Trump era is that when norms are set aside, seemingly small lies are justified or ignored, the undermining of guardrails trivialized, then the inevitable result is severe, and probably irreversible, damage to a democracy.

One of the most telling lessons of the American political story, in the Trump era is that when norms are set aside, seemingly small lies are justified or ignored, the undermining of guardrails trivialized, then the inevitable result is severe, and probably irreversible, damage to a democracy.
 

Similarities between Donald Trump and Andrew Holness

I am a critic of the Holness administration. Over the last several weeks I have been urging Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters who are critical of me, to show me even one criticism I have made of the members of the administration, particularly the Prime Minister, Andrew Holness and the Minister of Finance, Nigel Clarke which is false or misleading, or unfair.  None of them has shown a single statement made by me which is false or misleading.  One has argued that I am unfair as some of my criticisms are harsh, to which I have responded that all the expectations I have of the Prime Minister, in particular, have been expressed by him in commitments and promises he has repeatedly made, some of which he has repeated even when urged to cease doing so, given his failure to deliver.

In my considered assessment, there are similarities between Prime Minister Holness and Donald Trump.  I have discussed some of these similarities in other publications, but here I mention three.  Firstly, their knack for saying the things people want to hear (although Trump will shock the consciences of many with very ghastly utterances).  But when one considers Trump’s so-called stance on abortion, it will be evident to the critical onlooker that Trump is pandering.  Holness, unlike most Jamaican politicians, has a knack for saying the things he believes people want to hear but doing otherwise.

A second area in which Trump and Holness are similar is their low levels of regard for the constitution and the law.  Holness is known to have failed to pay property taxes, setting up a company overseas which would result in reduced tax liabilities.  While in Opposition, his actions (using pre-signed, undated letters of resignation to remove senators) were twice rebuffed by the high court as constituting violations of the constitution. Since becoming Prime Minister, he has had at least three major losses in the high court in relation to constitutional violations, and a fourth when he attempted to place the Chief Justice on probation.  Trump’s election interference and insurrection charges are similar actions of constitution-attacking behaviours.

A third area in which Trump and Holness are similar is in relation to his finances. Readers will recall how for years Trump refused to release his tax returns.  His refusal raised questions about his source of wealth and his level of exposure to foreign creditors. In the case of Holness, he has for two consecutive years, with a third now likely, failed to obtain certification by the Integrity Commission for his finances.  The net meaning of this failure is that he cannot explain his wealth.

With these common features of their public life, and given where America has reached under Trump, the question arises, can Jamaica face a similar situation with Holness, if we ignore the gravity and enormity of his failures and actions?

With these common features of their public life, and given where America has reached under Trump, the question arises, can Jamaica face a similar situation with Holness, if we ignore the gravity and enormity of his failures and actions?

Can Jamaicans afford to treat Holness’ conduct as okay? But beyond Holness’ own conduct is that of members of his administration.  Among these actions are:

• The engagement in illicit enrichment behaviours by some in his administration, based on the plausible inference that the six lawmakers reported by the Integrity Commission to be under investigation from illicit enrichment are all government lawmakers,
• The egregious conduct of the Speaker of the House in issuing the Clerk a letter of reprimand without due process.
• The decision of the government to undertake a legal battle to keep the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in office. And so, I ask, “Is it okay…?”

Are Jamaicans (at home and abroad) okay with transgressions of the Holness administration?

Is it okay with us that:

• The Prime Minister’s integrity declarations remain uncertified for successive years?
• The Prime Minister is unable to explain his wealth?
• The six government lawmakers under investigation for illicit enrichment have not been removed from their assignments by the Prime Minister?
• The six lawmakers who know that they are under investigation for illicit enrichment have refused to identify themselves and step aside?
•  The Speaker of the House of Representatives issued a letter of reprimand to an employee, without due process, and having now retracted the letter (by saying it is not on the employee’s file) still refusing to apologize to the employee?
• The government is using state resources to fight to keep the DPP in office?

If these things are not okay, the question is: what are we going to do about it?  If we allow these non-criminal matters to go unpunished, we could be sowing seeds for later crimes.

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Canute Thompson is Professor of Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, a social activist, and author of eight books and eighteen journal articles.

His academic achievements include:

• Two Principal’s Awards in 2023 for research activity generating the most funds, and research activity with the most development impacts, serving as Project Director for a project executed by the Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning.
• A 2022 Bronze place winner in the Independent Publisher Book Awards for his book, Education and Development: Policy Imperatives for Jamaica and the Caribbean.
• A 2021 finalist in The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence for all-round excellent performance in Outstanding Teaching, Outstanding Research Accomplishments, Outstanding Service to the University Community, Outstanding Public Service.
• A 2021 Principal’s Award for Most Outstanding Researcher.
• Two Principal’s Awards in 2020 for Most Outstanding Researcher and Best Publication for his book, Reimagining Educational Leadership in the Caribbean.