‘This is my seventh and probably last election’

Delroy Chuck was a well-established lawyer and legal educator before his entry into representational politics in 1997. A senior lecturer at the Norman Manley Law School at the time, he was more known for work through his law firm, Delroy Chuck & Company.

Chuck would join the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), becoming its spokesman on justice, and six elections later, it is likely that he is making his final bid for office.

“I’m six terms going seven. I think Phillip Paulwell and [Andrew] Holness, too. To be in politics for so long, you need to enjoy it, and secondly, you must be able to afford it. Without that, you try, as the need is always there. You have to have a thick skin and you have to tell the truth all the time. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, it is going to make you ill. It is also such a personal sacrifice,” Chuck told The Sunday Gleaner in an interview.

Chuck now faces one of his toughest challenges yet, as he’s being opposed by fellow attorney Stacey Knight, daughter of King’s Counsel K.D. Knight. He admitted this is the first time since his debut that he’s had to campaign so vigorously in his St Andrew North Eastern constituency.

“I did not campaign in my constituency because I was assisting other constituencies to win so that we could become and remain in Government. But this time I’m really campaigning very hard, along with my two councillors. And we’re working to make sure that we increase our majority. So this is my seventh and probably last occasion, so whoever we hand it over to will have an easy task in their first term,” he said.

Convincing his family of his political mission wasn’t easy. The personal cost has been significant.

PERSONAL RESOURCES, TIME

“In over 28 years, almost 20 years that I have served, it has been a great demand, not only on my personal resources, but also my time. My family time. Many times I should be travelling with my wife, you know, for birthday parties, or to go overseas. Or if she wants to take a trip, I have to say,’No, go with the children, or with their family’,” Chuck shared.

As for whether his children might enter politics, he said his youngest daughter has shown interest.

“While I encourage her, it has to be a personal decision. If she continues to show an interest, she may well be interested in taking over. But that’s not a matter for her or me. It is a matter for the party and the delegates of the constituency,” he stated.

Chuck is unsure if the public truly appreciates the sacrifices politicians make.

“I do get a few thank-yous every now and then. Certainly, my work in the justice system, I get a great deal of appreciation, especially from the custodians through my work there. Quite a few judges whose salaries have more than doubled from being the worst paid in 2015 to some of the best paid in the country. Every now and then a few judges will say, ‘Continue the good work’,” he said.

As minister of justice, Chuck said he also ensured that lawyers who provided services to the government were paid on time and that all outstanding judgment debts were settled. Justices of the peace (JPs), too, benefited from regular sensitisation sessions – though he maintained they will never be paid for their service.

“I would say, you know, within the justice system, I do get a great deal of appreciation. And in my community, sometimes people thank me for things that I don’t even remember,” he said.

However, he has felt the cold stare and broad brush of many who believe he came into politics to enrich himself. He made it clear that he did not enter representational politics for a financial benefit, and if that were so, he would have left it a long time ago.

Chuck is particularly proud of his work in reducing violence in inner-city areas, especially Grants Pen.

CONFLICTS AND VIOLENCE

“In the beginning – and certainly even before I entered my first term – the challenge was to reduce the number of conflicts and violence in the inner-city communities, especially in Grants Pen. People could not move across the roads and they were restricted to their area. And I am so happy to say for the last 15, 20 years, the community has been so close-knit and united that there are no exclusive zones anymore,” he said.

Is this his last term?

“Most likely. Whoever takes over, I hope that I can be their campaign manager or a part of their campaign team for at least the next three terms to see it continue to improve and to become a model constituency. In essence, I would like to see a number of areas where the vision possibly may not be achieved in the next term, such as removing those areas from the pockets of poverty,” he promised.

Although about 80 per cent of the roads in the constituency are in fairly good condition, he wants to see the remainder patched.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com