BASSETERRE St. Kitts, October 12th 2011 - It is amazing the way we seek to measure performance on the job by implementing various evaluation systems or performance criteria, and if found to be underperforming one is either reprimanded or dismissed as a result. On the other hand, it would appear politicians and political parties are not similarly assessed.
Good or bad performance, voters are content to support their party or political candidates. In fact, some will vote not on a party's good performance or a politician's demonstrated capability to tackle an issue, but strictly along party lines.
Whether it is on the job or concerns politicians or political parties good performance or getting results must be the criteria for continuous employment.
A party may have a good philosophy but performs poorly. Similarly, a politician may have a likeable personality but fails to perform to the satisfaction of the electorate.
These predispositions should not be permitted to dominate our politics. The electorate should always object strongly to empty rhetoric and promises which have clearly become the major strategy for some politicians, who often intimately court their constituents leading up and during the campaign then isolate them after the election.
Good performance in politics must be about getting tangible results through the political process to substantially improve our democracy and by extension, the socio-economic well being of our people. Hence, their performance should be thoroughly evaluated and in the event of poor performance, they must be made subject to reprimand or dismissal by their employer - the electorate.
It is my argument therefore, that it is time to change our politics, to one where measurable performance criteria intended to get the best performances from our politicians and political parties are put in place. For example, a performance criteria could be, the rate of reducing unemployment in your constituency.
If we as the employers of politicians or political parties do not evaluate and vote based on their performance, they are bound to do anything that pleases them including abusing their employer.
This I submit, will help to change the political culture to one where according to NRP, "performance matters". With this new culture, there is no such thing as party "die hards" and no room for voting along party lines. Out with the notion of my parents supported the party so I will support it too. Out with , "I like the party's philosophy etc.". Out with political party history and legacy as a premise for political viability. Out with following friends and family. Out with emotions and sympathy and let's set the performance criteria for both the incumbent and opposition politicians.
If for example NRP and Labour are addressing the issues and performing in compliance with the performance criteria as set by the electorate, CCM and PAM supporters should be mature enough to analyse the performances, gather the evidence, note the performance criteria are being met and shift support to NRP and Labour.
If NRP and labour are not fulfilling the performance criteria, then NRP and Labour supporters should be mature enough to analyse the performance, gather the facts, note the performance criteria are not being met and shift support to the opposition (CCM and PAM) who will be evaluated in much the same way as the incumbent for good performance while in opposition.
In other words, people are expected to shift from one party to the next based on performance and practical strategies for dealing with every day social, economical and political issues. In support of the performance criteria, the electorate will subject all politicians to periodic public meetings to review and provide feedback on their performance.
Political, social and economic issues must dominate our politics coupled with good performance from politicians and political parties. There is absolutely no room for debating personalities but politicians must have integrity. There will be no need to refer to party supporters as traitors because the shift from one party to the next must be justified by good performance.
The only thing that matters in this much desired new political culture is good performance and the most effective strategies for addressing the issues currently confronting our society.
Wile some may say creating a political performance culture in St.Kitts and Nevis is not as easily attained as outlined above, the reality is, the current political culture is divisive and will continue to promote political and personal hatred if actions are not taken now.
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