The Hon. Peter Bunting, (right) Member of Parliament for Central Manchester in Jamaica and General Secretary for the Opposition PNP in Jamaica receives the Glasspole Cooke Award for Achievement at the 26th Annual Jamaica National Movement Awards & Dinner in New York City. Others in photo are L-R Horace Thomas president of JNM and Desmond Clarke, vice-president. Mr Bunting was the keynote speaker at this year's gala last Saturday in Queens, NY. While here, Mr Bunting connected with hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans on his short trip, undertaking a grueling schedule of press interviews with Diaspora media in New York City, South Florida, Atlanta, New Jersey, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

General Secretary of the People’s National Party – Honorable Peter Bunting was the keynote speaker at 26th annual awards dinner dance of the Jamaica National Movement – The event took place on Saturday, July 17, 2010 in Queens, New York.   CaribPress caught up with this multifaceted politician and businessman via telephone, and we are pleased to share his insights on the dynamic situation with the “Dudus Affair”, as well as his assessment of the impact of the global economic downturn on his constituents.

CPress: In your opinion, what are the lessons learned on handling this dynamic situation with the “Dudus Affair” from a government standpoint?

Hon. PB: Well, I think first of all there was absolutely inappropriate, improper and in my opinion, corrupt interference in the law enforcement process.

We received thousands of extradition requests from the United States every year and they are handled in a particular way.  First of all, they are dealt with in secret, so the subject of the extradition is not tipped off until the warrant of arrest is being executed.  They are usually not subjected to the political interference; they are handled by the officers of the justice department or our attorney generals or director of public prosecution departments or by our police officers.  Politicians should really stay away from interfering in this process.  It has caused a great deal of mistrust with the political officials involved, the prime minister, the minister of justice and the minister of national security.  It has, I think, tainted Jamaica’s image internationally.  We appear to be a country that governs by the rule of law, but operate based on a country that was very good for business if you were in organized crime.

CPress: What are you hearing from your constituents in Central Manchester on the challenges they are facing?

Hon. PB: The main concern is the recession.  We have been impacted by the global recession.  Particularly the reduction in demand for commodities such as aluminum and that has caused the closure of two processing plants in our area, which were major employers.  Therefore, that has really hit the economy of our constituencies.  Unemployment is a big issue now.  While the entire country is in a recession, we are probably in a deeper recession because of the specific impact on the bauxite and our industry.  As I said, we do not have tourism and the economic diversification like some of the other parishes.

CaribPress: Tell our Readers about the parish that you represent.

Honorable Peter Bunting: I represent Central Manchester, which is the Central Southern part of Jamaica.  My constituents are on a 2,000 feet high plateau.  It is quite cool and that’s probably why it was named Manchester after the English kind of weather we have there most of the time.  It’s where most of the bauxite, mining and processing have taken place in Jamaica.  And it also is the home of Northern Caribbean University, one of the three primary universities in Jamaica.  Manchester is not typically considered a tourist destination, but it is a very popular place for returning residents.  It is real pretty, cool, low crime and quite a pleasant environment for living.  We have one of the oldest golf courses in the hemisphere that was built in the 19th century [Manchester Golf Club was founded in 1868 and is the first golf course in the Caribbean].  So, there are a few interesting features to the community. 

CPress: You have a very multifaceted career as a mechanical engineer and businessman.  How did you make the transition to government and politics?

Hon. PB: I have always been drawn to politics.  My father was not involved in politics at an electoral level.  But he was always fascinated and involved with it at some level.  I think he always talked to me about politicians and public service and those he admired.  So I think from an early age, as young as a teen-ager, I started going to political meetings.  It was a time of very charismatic leadership in Jamaica – Michael Manley was the prime minister.  He was really very inspirational and charismatic.  I had the opportunity to be exposed to Michael Manley.  After coming back from University, at one point I actually worked for him.  And that was inevitable my entry into the representation of politics.  “It was my exposure to then Prime Minister Michael Manley (and leader of the people’s national party) that transitioned what was an interest into a commitment to be a part of the political process.  Prime Minister Michael Manley was a mentor for me.”

CPress: What is the latest on the situation, specifically the violence that was ongoing in West Kingston?

Hon. PB: First I must tell you that as the opposition spokesman on national security, I was really in the vanguard of the group of opposition and civil society organization that brought pressure on the government.  You would recall for nine months they [the government] equivocated and attempted to frustrate the extradition request for Christopher “Dudus” Coke.  We really led the charge and were joined by the umbrella group of churches and many of the private sector organizations and NGO’s.  In fact – in the end – calling for Prime Minister Bruce Golding to resign for having put his individual interest, this alleged drug lord who had close ties to the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and to the prime minister’s own constituency, for putting his interest ahead of the rest of the nation.  I have been one of the most strident voices in parliament and in public pressuring the government, when the prime minister finally capitulated and signed the authority to proceed with the extradition and end the operation at Tivoli and subsequent apprehension and extradition of Coke.

What we have now seen in the ensuing 6-7 weeks is a dramatic reduction in murder and crime rate generally in Jamaica, particularly in the murder rate.  In June the murder rate was down by 30 percent.  In July, month to date, it is down by over 50 percent.  That is obvious that Coke, The Shower Posse and their headquarters in Tivoli Gardens was a substantial center of influence for organized crime in Jamaica.  The operation and removal of Coke and the operation to degrade the capacity for violence in Tivoli Gardens has really had a beneficial effect across the entire country.

CPress: How do you describe the mood of the country today?

Hon. PB: I would say the country is at a crossroads, a watershed period.  The mood is hopeful.  There is a sense of assertiveness of the broader civil society to hold the government accountable and to raise the bar for accountability by our leaders.  I think there is a momentum in that direction.  And if that sustains, I think the term outlook would be great for Jamaica overall.

CPress: How do you define your responsibilities with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ)?

Hon. PB: We really are responsible for supervising the electoral system in Jamaica.  Jamaica historically had some challenges to do with the elections and confrontation during election time.  During the late 1970’s, an agreement was arrived at by two parties to form the commission to really work towards a more perfect electoral system.  And it has made tremendous advances over the last three decades – To the point where we are looked at as a standard electoral organization in the Central American and Caribbean region.  We are often used to provide technical advice to some of the other organizations.

CPress: What major issues or current issues is the commission working on?

Hon. PB: The major issue that we are working on is political party financing and the elements related with political party financing.  Looking at campaign financing, looking at disclosure, looking at whether there should be term limits, state funding to some degree – These are the issues that we are dealing with now.

CPress: If you were advising a young person just starting out in his or her career, what advice would you offer?

Hon. PB: I would tell them to try and do work that they are passionate about.  Then it never will feel like work.  It will be like you are being paid to do something which you would do for free.

CPress: What obstacles have you faced or do you expect to face in your career?

Hon. PB: I have been very fortunate and have had many opportunities for leadership at a relatively young age. I have had challenges, but nothing that would stand out as being an obstacle.  I have been successful at all the electoral contests that I have participated in.  I have been fairly successful in all my business ventures. I know there have been challenges and roadblocks along the way, but nothing so significant.

CPress: What’s next for Hon. Peter Bunting?

Hon. PB: Right now I am the Executive Officer for the party [People’s National Party].  I run the party on a day-to-day basis.  I run the party secretarial.  I am in charge of political organization.  Therefore, my next major goal is to prepare the party for the upcoming general election, which is due in another two years.  They will be on an election alert.  There was a poll done a month or two ago that shows our party [People’s National Party] ahead of the government quite substantially, leading 2:1 actually.  We have to hold a steady course and make sure that the things we are doing right are continued and shape up on those that need improving.