Name: Rajaye Bonner

Id#: 620103130

Topic:

Discuss the nature of garrison politics and political violence in Jamaica urban
politics

Date: 13/03/2018
 The Jamaica state of affair in relation to Garrison Communities pre and post-

independence have been significant tarnished and dented as a direct result of the political

representative Machiavellian creation which metamorphose into political violence. This has

been such a prolific instrument in the incumbent arsenal that most Jamaican has accepted

political violence as a necessary by product of Garrison communities. It is an irrefutable truism

that the lifeblood of Garrisons is utter anomie which has become such a poignant that for more

than (30) years as purported by (Miller, 2009) Non-Government Organization (NGO’s) have

been struggling to dismantle the atrocity that the government has created. According to (King,

2009) in an article entitled “How to successfully dismantle Garrison Politics”; A political

garrison is an area where at least 90% of the eligible votes are cast for either the People’s

National Party (PNP) or Jamaica Labor Party (JLP). Those votes are usually secured by way of

coercion, intimidation (both implicit and explicit) or through bribery. Whereas political violence

is noted as a derivative and direct consequent of the establishment of garrison community which

emerges as annihilative clashes between rival political groups to secure their means of

sustenance and obliterates any contesting figure who threatens such (Davis, 2004). Additionally

there are (12) official garrison constituencies (which each comprises several garrison

communities). It is on this basis that one can effectively grasp the nature of Political Garrison

and the extent through which clientelism “the practice of giving material commodities in the

return for political and electoral support” (Edie, 1997) has resulted in political violence.

Political representatives are intrinsically inclined to maintain political office. Hence

clientelism forms a Garrison political climate which allows political representatives to stay in

power without having to confront the real societal ills such as poverty, corruption, jobs, gang

violence, poor infrastructural and economic impoverishment such communities faces. Essentially
then in boycotting these issues the culture of political misappropriation is forged as it acts as an

enabler to allot the bulk of funds and other incentives to members of parliament and councilors

whilst distributing an insignificant amount to these communities under the guise that they are

actually making real strides. Clientelism at its core represents corruption, the act builds

garrisons which strategically maximizes predictability in favors of the incumbents due to

misaligned notions of loyalty. That is to say citizens in these deprived communities associate

political member with overdue homage as such it is highly unlikely that in the general or by-

elections these individual would “bite the hands that has fed him”.

“The deplorable living conditions, low levels of skills, the unavailability of jobs

and the intense material deprivation force some grass roots supporters to align themselves to the

JLP or the PNP in order to maximize their access to the limited resources. Some of these

supporters see the patronage benefits as their only or most secure economic lifeline. Therefore,

they will kill anyone who threatens the support base of their political leaders because it is

perceived as a threat to their daily survival” (Charles, 2002). This fosters a dependency

syndrome to the political party distributing favors which concretizes solidarity as both supporters

and political representative develop a symbiotic relationship which guarantee’s both survive. As

a result of this clientelistic and patronage relationship it has led many citizens in political

garrisons to become complacent and not aiming to rid themselves of such conditions. Why work

for something you can simply attain through compliance and inappropriately wasting one’s

constitutional right to vote. Additionally due to this over reliance any outside infringement

especially by opposing political forces on these scarce resources will be met by fire and fury

(political violence) to which is often their singular source of income.

 As noted by (Charles, 2002) “the tactic of rationing and distributing of scarce resources

such as jobs, housing, contracts, land and cash are only given to loyal party supporters to keep

them faithful”. This is done in a discriminate and partisan way which is geared at broaden party

support and mass appeal to entice rival party members to relinquish opposing party allegiance

and jump ship. Hence the ploy that is utilized by party member is to allow the benefits in their

party to appear so alluring that it entices both political neutral and opposing political member to

sway. This is usually more instrumental on the part of the party in office as they would have

access to more resources to distribute to only party loyalists.

“Jamaica is classified as a Clientelism democracy where the vast majority of the poor,

align political participation to an ulterior motive of expected material and social advantage for

betterment or advancement. Through Clientelism, the poorest of the lower class of both parties,

view their immediate needs for examples food, housing, and employment as being partially, if

temporarily satisfied.” (Edie, 1997) This reinforce the culture of you do something me and I’ll do

something for you; which is to say that my vote will ensure you attain your goal of political

office and in turn my need to have the basic sustenance for survival is met.

Due to constant opposition between political forces to assume and maintain power

political violence emanates as a prime agent is securing and maintaining political office as party

loyalist through clientelism will do anything to ensure the constant supply of this patronage.

Which is further supported by (King, 2009) who makes the intriguing point that “Because of

high unemployment rate and their low level education & skill these JLP/PNP supporters

experience extreme material deprivations. As such these individual attach themselves to any

party that provide and distribute of scare resources”. This establishes the fundamental pillars of

political violence as (James, 2007) documented “contrary to what many believe the incestuous
relationship between politicians and criminal gunmen is alive and well. However, the nature of

the relationship has morphed because most politicians no longer hand out guns to criminals.

Criminal enforcers now purchase their own guns from the proceeds of crime and violence and

the drug trade and community based contracts dons receive from politicians”. As a result of

additional transparency and additional anti-corruption initiatives and institutions many would be

of the view that the culture of politician fueled violence are archaic and a notion of yesteryear

however as aforementioned it is a very eminent reality in the Urban area Garrison in particular

and society at large. Hence these electoral constituencies have been blamed for the escalation of

crime and the decay of civility in the urban area (Harriott, 2004).

Additionally due to the fact that a vast amount of these individuals are unemployable

political gangs members assume political militarization as a source of income and as a means of

attaining additional income. Therefore gang violence in taking rival turfs also reciprocates in

political favors as more turfs mean more electoral support hence additional patronage (Beckford,

2012), Political identity then often means gang identity as this form of violence is not a new

phenomenon in Jamaica arguably it has been embedded in our DNA since our independence.

With instances of: mass shooting, coercing to vote, arson, bloodbaths, assassination attempts.

Garrison politics is an eminent threat to our country as it enables political

representatives to undermine democracy and boycott the real issue plaguing our society.

Additionally it has been exploited by state actors as it more often than not sustain their tenure in

office and to an extent afforded them the ability to utilize power in a manner to which they see

fit. As was discussed as a result of political garrisons being created it has morphed into political

violence which threats nation interest and the viable state of affair that must exist with a

democratic framework.
 References:

Anthony Hariott. (2000). Police and Crime control in Jamaica. 24.

Carlene Edie. (1997). Jamaican Pioneer of Political Culture. Retrospective in commemoration of

Carl Stone.

Carlos King. (2009). How to successfully dismantle political garrisons. 2.

Chistopher Charles. (2004). Political identity and criminal violence in Jamaica. A Caribbean

Journal of Criticism, 12-16.

Orville Beckford. (2012). The informal Justice System. 6.

Thomas Miller. (2006). Political Violence Origin In Jamaica. 1.