Will Golding's Tivoli heir ... Mash down garrison politics?

The nine-month reluctance of Prime Minister Bruce Golding to sanction the extradition of the undisputed head of the strongest garrison in Jamaica was, arguably, the most lethal blow to his 40-year political career.

It is for this reason that, while the immediate preoccupation for the country is to find a replacement for Golding as prime minister, the inescapable issue of the garrison culture cannot be swept under the carpet at this critical time in Jamaica's history.

Many are of the view that Golding squandered his political capital and wrecked a promising future by standing up for the most potent rogue in his strong Tivoli Gardens community of Western Kingston.

The prime minister admitted in Parliament in May 2010 that he sanctioned the engagement of the prestigious United States (US) law firm, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, to help his Government extricate itself from the diplomatic imbroglio in which it had become enmeshed that almost cost Golding his job at the time.

Golding survived then, but it became obvious that life would not be the same.

It seems ironic that Golding and 'Dudus' capitulated under somewhat similar circumstances.

Dudus decided on a guilty plea in his gunrunning/drug-trafficking case in the US just after his mother died, and Golding announced his plans to step down as prime minister just after his own mother passed away.

Although the business community, civic groups and the Church, among others, appeared to have relented after Golding's seemingly heartfelt apology in May 2010 after initially giving the nation the impression that he knew nothing of the arrangement, poll findings found that many believed that he had done an unforgivable wrong.

Golding's apology was followed by the then justice minister, Dorothy Lightbourne's, finally signing an extradition that she had on her desk for nine months.

This paved the way for a brand of chaotic stand-off never before witnessed in Jamaica.

Embedded in a culture that is as strong as it is entrenched, the people of West Kingston, and more specifically, Tivoli Gardens, would not allow legitimate forces to snatch away their primary benefactor and protector. That's just the way it was.

Garrison culture still alive

The ensuing incursion, which claimed the lives of one soldier and 73 civilians from West Kingston, may have temporarily handicapped the garrison communities in the general area, and, more specifically, Tivoli Gardens, but there are signs that the garrison culture remains alive and kicking.

As the prominent attorney-at-law, Tom Tavares-Finson, who, by his own admission, is a long-time political western Kingston benefactor and who now desires to replace Golding as its parliamentary representative, asserts: "West Kingston is colourfully unique."

Since 1944, some of the biggest names in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have represented the constituency.

These include the JLP founder, Alexander Bustamante; Donald Sangster; Hugh Shearer; Edward Seaga and Golding, all of whom emerged as prime ministers during their political career.

Even before Tivoli Gardens emerged as a spanking new community replacing Back o' Wall and Ackee Walk, and Denham Town was the centre of activities in Western Kingston, the constituency had a reputation for volatility.

The Gleaner archives reveal that Western Kingston (Spanish Town Road) may have been the only constituency in which guns barked during that first election that Seaga contested.

Seaga himself has regaled constituents about his early bouts of colourful experiences of his early days in the constituency.

Times changed, but it appears that the essence of West Kingston have not.

The Gleaner archives is replete with accounts of police and resident stand-offs in Tivoli Gardens, including 2001, when 27 people died.

Spread of garrisons

Historically, political machinations - including crafty selection schemes, as well as forced and violent evictions and even gerrymandering of constituencies - kicked into high gear and an increasing number of constituencies with garrison flavour began to spring up all over the Corporate Area.

During the 1960s, while Seaga reigned supreme in Western Kingston, another powerful and neighbouring constituency was being created by his close confidant, Clem Tavares (uncle of Tom Tavares-Finson), in the same South Western St Andrew that is now being dominated by president of the People's National Party (PNP), Portia Simpson Miller.

Before Clem Tavares, it was Wilton Hill, another former JLP stalwart, who controlled the seat, rendering it a JLP stronghold. But all this changed when Simpson Miller entered the constituency on the PNP ticket and upset the apple cart in 1976.

It has since been one of the PNP's most powerful garrisons, but Simpson Miller constantly seems to be in denial about the existence of South Western St Andrew as such.

At the same time, Anthony Spaulding, another PNP politician, set out to control South St. Andrew.

These three powerful garrison constituencies in the same general area would become a veritable war zone in years to come.

Like wildfire, politicians developed a new custom of safeguarding areas through nefarious means, and violence became the order of the day. It was that violence that culminated in the deadly explosions that claimed hundreds of lives in the lead-up to the 1976 and 1980 general elections.

Central Kingston, under the late Ralph Brown, soon became impregnable for the PNP. Then there was Eastern Kingston, once represented by PNP stalwarts such as former Prime Minister Michael Manley and Hugh Small.

Golding himself once reigned over Central St. Catherine, a JLP garrison that was taken over by Olivia 'Babsy' Grange in 1997 when he went to the National Democratic Movement.

That Golding was unable to retain the seat he dominated on the JLP ticket for the preceding 14 years speaks volumes of the potency of garrisons.

The arguments over whether some constituencies are garrisons are as heated as the areas themselves, but the naked and brutal truth is that if constituents in an area are not free to vote for the candidates of their choice, that region must be designated a garrison.

It is rather intriguing that Andrew Holness, one of the front-runners in the race for a new leader of the JLP, and by extension, the prime minister of Jamaica, represents a constituency with pockets of garrison power.

Attorney-at-law Patrick Bailey does not view West Central St Andrew as a garrison, as it alternates between parties.

That is true.

Carl Thompson won the seat for the PNP  between 1972 and 1980; then the JLP's Ferdinand Yap won it in 1980 and kept it until 1989, when he was defeated by the PNP's A.J. Nicholson, who relinquished it in 1997. Holness has held it since, becoming a three-term MP. 

Notwithstanding, West Central St Andrew possesses strong garrison flavour. Holness does not dominate the Balcombe Drive area and neighbouring communities which are largely volatile and pro-PNP. But he cannot be defeated in the Tower Hill sections of Olympic Gardens and adjoining areas, which display similar traits. It is often estimated that the PNP enjoys strong support in about 14 garrison constituencies, to the JLP's three - Western Kingston; Central St Catherine and Central Clarendon, represented by JLP Chairman Mike Henry.

A definition must be made for Karl Samuda's North Central St Andrew seat (Red Hills Road is firmly JLP) and Delroy Chuck's North East St Andrew (Grants Pen community).

Time for tom

Senator Tom Tavares-Finson says he now desires to represent the people of Western Kingston in Parliament.

In all likelihood, he will be the next MP, given the strength of the JLP in the constituency.

By his own acknowledgement, he knows West Kingston and its people well and is familiar with their lifestyle. He is quite influential in the area.

Tavares-Finson must, therefore, place on the table what he plans to do about dismantling the garrison culture that pervades Tivoli Gardens, to prevent a recurrence of the ghastly tragedy that hit the people of the constituency in their defence of their former benefactor.

Who to tell? Tavares-Finson's intervention could go a far way in breaking the back of an entrenched culture that has crippled Jamaica's socio-political existence. Or will he maintain the tradition of anti-democratic blocs that will use muscle and more to keep dissidents in line? His destiny is in his hands.

By the way, Tom Tavares-Finson presented a fascinating response to queries over whether he was bucking the trend of JLP MPs of Western Kingston eventually ascending to the prime ministership.

"Who told you that I am bucking any trend?" he quipped, with a chuckle.

Only time will tell.

Gary Spaulding is a political affairs journalist. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com.