This is the perennial paradox of democracy. Commitment to democratic principles must be exercised independently by each generation of Parliamentarians and each Electoral Commission.


Left: Errol L. Miller presenting his Vision for the Caribbean paper in February 2013


of his party who were highly regarded leaders in different sectors of the society, and who could be expected to be “guardians” of the Constitution. I was one of the eight Independent Senators that served in Parliament during the period of the One-Party House of Representatives from 1984-1989 and therefore saw at first hand the efforts made by the leadership of both major parties to honor the agreement of 1979.


In December 2000 three new Selected Members, highly


respected professionals in their respective fields, were appointed to the EAC. They had in common the fact that they were practicing Christian believers who were very active in their respective denominations: Seventh Day Adventist, Methodist and Baptist, I being the latter who was appointed chairman. The EAC Act of 1979 promised the formation of an Electoral Commission. This Commission came into being on December 1, 2006, and replaced the EAC, which was abolished. Since the formation of the EAC and the Electoral Commission, its successor, Jamaica has developed the reputation for conducting elections at the highest international standards. Among the obstacles that had to be overcome was a legacy of distrust that persisted and pervaded the relationships between the major political parties at all levels and also in the general citizenry.


The Role of Stewardship


One of the major accomplishments of independent Jamaica has been the transformation of its electoral system. Gerrymandering of constituency boundaries has been eliminated. Elections are conducted in such a manner that every Member of Parliament is elected by the plurality of secret ballots cast by eligible electors. In reflecting on Jamaica’s long history of elections, its


experience with the abusive “winner takes all” system, its decision in 1979 to change course and its experiment that has transformed the electoral process and led to political stability in the country, the following conclusions seem warranted:


l Unfaithful stewards of the power devolved to them by the people compromise democracy and sow the seeds of political


instability and violence in elections. However, the situation is not beyond redemption. l Faithful stewards of power are vital and essential; however, faithfulness alone is not sufficient. l To be fruitful and effective, stewards need to be shrewd, a


quality highlighted by Jesus and recorded in Luke 16: 1-13. This is particularly required of those who operate in the bureaucracy of the state because they work in an intersection in which political intention compete and contend. Often the intersection is jammed as cross purposes prevail. It is the responsibility of stewards to clear the jam and get things moving in directions of progress. This requires sober judgment, careful calculation and wise actions that are never truly neutral. The history of stewardship reveals two types of stewards: stewards of the palace, the powerful, and stewards of the people. The most effective stewards are those who the palace needs and the people trust, for the same reasons: their competency, honesty and integrity.


The transformation that has taken place in Jamaica cannot be regarded as permanent. Loopholes that favor incumbency could be re-introduced into electoral laws. This is the perennial paradox of democracy. Commitment to democratic principles must be exercised independently by each generation of Parliamentarians and each Electoral Commission.


Errol Miller, a longtime Baptist and University Professor, was an Independent Senator in Jamaica, 1984-1989; and


chaired the Electoral Advisory Committee and its successor the Electoral Commission over the period 2000-2012. The full version of this article may be read on the BWA website at www.bwanet.org.


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