From Washington to Christiana

Six months ago, she was Jamaica’s top diplomat in the United States (US), but today she is the first female member of parliament to represent the Manchester North East constituency.

Audrey Marks has transformed from diplomat to political representative in two and a half months, the period of time she had to prove herself worthy of the Manchester North East constituency previously held by Audley Shaw.

On election night, September 3, she emerged victorious, a first-time candidate who was more comfortable sitting with presidents and prime ministers and being on the diplomatic circuit in Washington, DC than being on the political hustings.

To campaign for a political seat meant that Marks had to drop that reserved persona with which she was most identified as a diplomat and pivot into being a candidate exhibiting the qualities of a successful politician.

“Being involved in a political campaign meant that I had to become more relaxed and more comfortable interacting. It is an amazing experience,” she told The Gleaner.

Her journey began shortly after she ended her tenure as Jamaica’s ambassador to the US in March, after being in the position for some nine years. She was appointed to the Senate by the prime minister and named a minister in the Office of the Prime Minister.

However, her full transformation into a political figure began in June, when she was asked by the leadership of the Jamaican Labour Party to become the candidate for the Manchester North East constituency.

“It was not my first choice (to run for political office). but as part of the team I felt I had to become involved to bring home another seat for the party,” she said.

Marks had two and a half months to turn the constituency around if she was to be victorious. The seat, while considered a reliable JLP seat, was floundering and was listed in the party’s loss column.

There was no functioning constituency office, and the constituency was not being ideally serviced due to the ill health of the sitting member. In addition, the skirmish between two candidates seeking to become the candidate to represent the party in the general election left the constituency further divided.

Further, Marks accepted to become the party’s standard-bearer in the elections for the seat to try and send another message.

“Maybe it was the opportunity to remind people to consider political service, and to become involved in the development of our country,” she said.

INSPIRATION FOR YOUNG FRMALES

Marks also believe that her running for political office could help inspire young females to believe they can be who they want to be, if they follow their dreams.

According to Marks, being a member of parliament means that she can become a greater source in assisting people in overcoming the situations they might find themselves in.

Another reason for her entering the political arena was her belief in the vision of the prime minister to transform Jamaica into a First-World country, a place to do business, raise a family, and improve the quality of life for citizens.

“The runway has been set, and the transformation has begun to set the country on an economic course from which there could be no going back,” she said.

Marks agreed that work needs to be done on infrastructure, but believes that, with the debt-to-GDP ratio now at 62 per cent, the Government can now focus on the work necessary to improve the country’s infrastructure.

On a constituency level, Marks opened an office that serves as both her constituency office and campaign headquarters.

She held town hall meetings because, as she said, there was very little time to meet constituents on a one-on-one basis. She also brought her discipline as an entrepreneur to bear on how she could transform the constituency.

“The people are warm and welcoming and it made the transformation process easier. The constituency has a lot of potential, and I want to unlock that potential for the benefit of the people,” she told The Gleaner.

Jobs, education, farmers’ needs and the provision of services to members of the constituency are high on her list of things to be done in the area, she said.

Having been a businesswoman and a diplomat, Marks believes strongly that the streamlining of government bureaucracy will not only increase investments in the country, but benefit citizens in their dealings with governmental agencies.

As Marks prepares to take her seat in Gordon House, it carries special significance not just for her, but for others who may see politics and politicians in a negative light.

The message she wants to send is that “political service is noble”.

editorial@gleanerjm.com