Opinion: Should the PNP accept Vybz Kartel’s support?

Jamaica’s opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has reportedly held a very enthusiastic and productive national conference this past weekend, the 86th. At the conference, party leader Mark Golding delivered an impressive speech. Interestingly, however, several headlines in the immediate aftermath of the conference focused on the appearance on the conference stage of notorious Jamaican entertainer Adidja Palmer, also known as Vybz Kartel.

According to reports, Kartel received loud applause from PNP supporters at the National Arena in Kingston when he took the stage. He wore a mask in the PNP orange colors and raised his hands in the PNP fist salute.

From the posts and reactions on social media, it is clear that most PNP supporters, especially the youth, are enthusiastic about Kartel’s support for the party. The organizers of the conference acknowledged his support by having him prominently displayed on stage with his lawyer, Isat Buchannan. However, there are also several PNP supporters and non-supporters who are extremely critical of the party that Kartel has made so prominent.

The criticism stems from Kartel’s reputation as a criminal and convicted murderer, even though he was recently released from a prison sentence related to his conviction. In 2014, Kartel was sentenced to life in prison with the option to parole after 35 years for the murder of one Clive “Lizard” Williams. On March 14 of this year, the London-based Privy Council quashed his conviction, along with those of three men accused with him, citing jury misconduct. The Privy Council then resubmitted the case to the Jamaican Court of Appeal to decide whether to retry the men or release them. On July 31, a panel of judges led by the President of the Court of Appeal freed Kartel and his co-defendants. According to the judges, there were at least 12 factors that motivated their decision to release the men from their murder sentences.

Despite the new controversy, several PNP members, including senior members, appear to believe that Kartel’s support could be a major advantage in the next general election, scheduled for September 2025, given his huge popularity among some Jamaicans. It is believed that his support could be instrumental in turning out young people for the party.

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Historically, Jamaica’s major political parties have had traditional ties to individuals identified as criminals. These ties increased in the late 1960s and were quite evident during the politically turbulent 1970s. Alleged gunmen served as informal bodyguards for political candidates of both the PNP and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and criminal elements, popular as “dons” or leaders of their inner-city and garrison communities, played a major role in mobilizing votes for the political party with which they were associated. On the other hand, some of these criminals also intimidated individuals who showed or were known to support the party the criminals opposed. It is widely believed that the violence that marked the period leading up to the 1980 general elections was carried out by criminal elements associated with both major parties.

Criminal elements associated with political parties are certainly not unique to Jamaican politics. Criminal elements all over the world are powerful supporters of political candidates and parties. It was widely claimed that the victory of Democrat John F. Kennedy over Republican Richard Nixon in the 1960 US presidential election was due to the support of the Mafia.

Whether it is acknowledged or not, and whether it is liked or not, it is a fact that individuals who are popular with the public, including notorious criminals or former notorious criminals, athletes and entertainers, can help mobilize votes for a political party or candidate, especially in close elections. This is why the endorsement of popular American entertainer Taylor Swift for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is so welcome to the Harris/Walz campaign.

Those who criticize the PNP’s acceptance of Kartel’s support see it as a party allying with a criminal, while criticizing the government for its weakness in combating violent crime in the country. Some see the party’s acceptance of Kartel as downright hypocritical when it comes to fighting crime. That may be true, but politics often leads politicians to associate with unsavory characters in their bid for power. Modern politics is increasingly not for the moralistic or the faint of heart. Politics strives for one goal: winning elections.

With this goal in mind, politicians and political parties will and do use any means necessary to justify the end of the election victory. Some people rightly criticize the PNP’s open acceptance of support from a convicted murderer, even though he has been released. However, if Kartel’s support helps the party win the subsequent general election, then the acceptance of Kartel’s support will certainly be considered justified.