State of the Nation Debate Opening Presentation by Senator Burchell Whiteman

Madam President, the motion before us seeks to commend the Government for its programme of work in the recently concluded legislative year and to thank the Governor General for his presentation of the Government’s programme for the year on which we have embarked.

In opening the debate, Madame President, I will seek to locate my observations in the context of our historical development as a democracy, look critically and with the aid of some comparative data at our present situation and make some observations about the future directions of the country.

In the traditions of this Chamber, I begin by thanking persons who have afforded me the opportunity to be here and to serve in this parliament as a member of the government. I refer to the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson, Prime Minister, my colleagues and supporters in the political organization to which I proudly belong, public officials in the Office of the Prime Minister and across the Ministries and agencies of the Government, the officers and staff of the Parliament and the ladies and gentlemen of the media houses with whom I hope I can say I have a mutually dependent relationship.

I also acknowledge all my colleagues in this Senate and very specially the members of my family and my church who continue to support me in very many ways.

This year, Madam President, Jamaica will celebrate the diamond jubilee of the gaining of universal adult suffrage. For sixty years we have enjoyed one of the fundamental rights and obligation of a democracy, the right of every adult individual to vote and to select his government – at local or national level.

Are there any specific legacies we enjoy today after almost sixty years?

As it happens, the administration of the country has been just about equally shared between the two major political parties. That is a benefit that we must recognize and use to our advantage. When the people have the freedom to make a choice and have a history behind them of making choices, we should not be overly preoccupied by fears of abuse of power.