Party Platform

THE UIC MANIFESTO

 

PREAMBLE

As Uniters, we seek to create ONE JAMAICA!

A Republic of Jamaica:

  1. That is not divided by class, party, colour or community.
  2. That protects the life, liberty and property of all citizens equally.
  3. That ensures everyone may live, earn and retire with dignity.
  4. That is among the safest, cleanest and most orderly of all nations. 

A Jamaica that is United, Strong and Free.

Protecting the life, liberty and property of every citizen equally is the essential precondition for a free, fair and prosperous society. 

Without this protection, there can be no peace, only poverty, crime and violence. 

We must banish the use of force and fraud from our human relationships, as it is only through voluntary, mutually beneficial, exchanges that may we enjoy true peace and prosperity in our families, communities and country.

Consequently, we will defend the right of everyone to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity, creativity and prosperity that true individual freedom brings. 

 

The society we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power, provided they do not infringe on the life, liberty and property of others.

The following are our basic principles and the policy stands derived from them.

Our goal is nothing more or less than a society where all are truly free to realize their full potential in a safe, clean and orderly society, and it is to this end that we take these stands.

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

We, the members of the United Independents’ Congress, hereby challenge the moral authority of the omnipotent state and defend the inherent rights of every individual to be free.

We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.

Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labour. All political parties except for the UIC grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labour without their consent.

We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life — accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action — accordingly we oppose all attempts by the government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property — accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.

Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by the government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.

1.0 PERSONAL LIBERTY

Individuals are inherently free to make choices for themselves and must accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. Our support of an individual’s right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices. No individual, group, or government may rightly initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. Uniters reject the notion that groups have inherent rights. We support the rights of the smallest minority, the individual.

1.1 Self-Ownership

Individuals own their bodies and have rights over them that other individuals, groups, and governments may not violate. Individuals have the freedom and responsibility to decide what they knowingly and voluntarily consume, and what risks they accept to their own health, finances, safety, or life.

1.2 Expression and Communication

We support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation, or control of communications media and technology. We favour the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion.

1.3 Privacy

Uniters advocate individual privacy and government transparency. We are committed to ending the government’s practice of spying on everyone. We support the rights to be secure in our persons, homes, property, and communications. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as bank account, email, medical, and library records.

1.4 Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government’s treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration, or military service laws. The government does not have the authority to define, promote, license, or restrict personal relationships, regardless of the number of participants. Consenting adults should be free to choose their sexual practices and personal relationships. Until such time the government stops its illegitimate practise of marriage licensing, such licenses must be granted to all consenting adults who apply.

1.5 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

1.6 Parental Rights

Parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs, provided that the rights of children to be free from abuse and neglect are also protected.

1.7 Crime and Justice

Government force must be limited to the protection of the rights of individuals to life, liberty, and property, and governments must never be permitted to violate these rights. Laws should be limited in their application to violations of the rights of others through force or fraud, or to deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Therefore, we favour the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as gambling, the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes, and consensual transactions involving sexual services. We support restitution to the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. The constitutional rights of the criminally accused, including due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must be preserved. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law. We oppose the prosecutorial practice of “over-charging” in criminal prosecutions to avoid jury trials by intimidating defendants into accepting plea bargains

1.8 Death Penalty

We oppose the administration of the death penalty by the state. Only an infallible God can ensure that the party pronounced guilty is guilty. The death penalty is irreversible and as such is an unwise power to vest in the hands of any man or woman. 

1.9 Self-Defense

The only legitimate use of force is in defence of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the individual right to keep and bear arms and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defence. Private property owners should be free to establish their own conditions regarding the presence of personal defence weapons on their own property. We oppose all laws at any level of government restricting, registering, or monitoring the ownership, manufacture, or transfer of firearms or ammunition. 

2.0 ECONOMIC LIBERTY

Uniters want all members of society to have abundant opportunities to achieve economic success. A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others in the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by the government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.

2.1 Property and Contract

As respect for property rights is fundamental to maintaining a free and prosperous society, it follows that the freedom to contract to obtain, retain, profit from, manage, or dispose of one’s property must also be upheld. Uniters would free property owners from government property taxes and restrictions on their rights to control and enjoy their property, as long as their choices do not harm or infringe on the rights of others. Eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, governmental limits on profits, governmental production mandates, and governmental controls on prices of goods and services (including wages, rents, and interest) are abridgements of such fundamental rights. For voluntary dealings among private entities, parties should be free to choose with whom they trade and set whatever trade terms are mutually agreeable.

2.2 Environment

Competitive free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioural changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. Governments are unaccountable for damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights and responsibilities regarding resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Where damages can be proven and quantified in a court of law, restitution to the injured parties must be required.

2.3 Energy and Resources

While energy is needed to fuel a modern society, the government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. We oppose all government control of energy pricing, allocation, and production.

2.4 Government Finance and Spending

All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labour and spend their earnings as they see fit. To this end, Uniters wish to limit the Government to revenues of no more than 10% of all individuals earnings to fund spending on public goods and services that will ensure a safe, clean and orderly environment wherein everyone may live, work and retire with dignity in a truly free and fair market economy.

To fund humanitarian crises, including the proper nutrition, education, healthcare and housing of the poor, Uniters propose that Government collect a sales tax of 10% which shall be designated for these purposes only. No child should be denied the benefit of basic education, good nutrition, decent housing or healthcare. The parents (father and mother) must be held accountable, but the child should not suffer in the process. 

2.5 Government Debt

The government should not incur debt at interest, but should instead operate on a balanced budget formula of 10% of the income generated by residents and print only as much money as can be absorbed by true productivity growth while protecting the purchasing power of senior citizens by avoiding artificial inflation, devaluation and deflation at all cost.

2.6 Government Employees

We favour repealing any requirement that one must join or pay dues to a union as a condition of government employment. We advocate replacing defined-benefit pensions with defined-contribution plans, as are commonly offered in the private sector, so as not to impose debt on future generations without their consent.

2.7 Money and Financial Markets

We favour free-market banking, with unrestricted competition among banks and depository institutions of all types. Markets are not free unless fraud is vigorously combated. Those who enjoy the possibility of profits must not impose risks of losses upon others, such as through government guarantees or bailouts. We support ending student loan guarantees and special treatment of student loan debt in bankruptcy proceedings. Individuals engaged in voluntary exchange should be free to use as money any mutually agreeable commodity or item. We support a halt to inflationary monetary policies and unconstitutional legal tender laws.

2.8 Marketplace Freedom

Uniters support free markets. We defend the right of individuals to form corporations, cooperatives and other types of entities based on voluntary association. We oppose all forms of government subsidies and bailouts to business, labour, or any other special interest. The government should not compete with private enterprise.

2.9 Licensing

Uniters support the right of every person to earn an honest and peaceful living through the free and voluntary exchange of goods and services. Accordingly, we oppose occupational and other licensing laws that infringe on this right or treat it as a state-granted privilege. We encourage certifications by voluntary associations of professionals.

2.10 Sex Work

The UIC supports the decriminalization of prostitution. We assert the right of consenting adults to provide sexual services to clients for compensation, and the right of clients to purchase sexual services from consenting sex workers.

2.11 Labor Markets

Employment and compensation agreements between private employers and employees are outside the scope of government, and these contracts should not be encumbered by government-mandated benefits or social engineering. We support the right of private employers and employees to choose whether or not to bargain with each other through a labour union. Bargaining should be free of government interference, such as compulsory arbitration or imposing an obligation to bargain.

2.12 Education

Education is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality, accountability, and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Recognizing that the education of children is a parental responsibility, we would restore authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from the government. Parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children’s education.

2.13 Health Care

We favour a free-market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want (if any), the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions. People should be free to purchase health insurance from whom and as they see fit.

2.14 Retirement and Income Security

Retirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. Uniters would phase out the current government-sponsored system and transition to a private voluntary system. The proper and most effective source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals. We believe members of society will become even more charitable and civil society will be strengthened as the government reduces its activity in this realm. 

3.0 SECURING LIBERTY

The protection of individual rights is the only proper purpose of government. Government is to be constitutionally limited to prevent the infringement of individual rights by the government itself. The principle of non-initiation of force should guide the relationships between governments.

3.1 National Defense

We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend our country against aggression. We should both avoid entangling alliances and oppose any attempt by any country to act as a policeman for the world. We oppose any form of compulsory national service.

3.2 Internal Security and Individual Rights

The defence of the country requires that we have adequate intelligence to detect and to counter threats to domestic security. This requirement must not take priority over maintaining the civil liberties of our citizens. The Constitution and Bill of Rights shall not be suspended even during a time of war. Intelligence agencies that legitimately seek to preserve the security of the nation must be subject to oversight and transparency. We oppose the government’s use of secret classifications to keep from the public information that it should have, especially that which shows that the government has violated the law. We oppose the use of torture and other cruel and unusual punishments, without exception.

3.3 International Affairs

Jamaican foreign policy should seek a Jamaica at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defence against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We oppose any policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.

3.4 Free Trade and Migration

We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals are not unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders.

3.5 Rights and Discrimination

Uniters embrace the concept that all people are born with certain inherent rights. We reject the idea that a natural right can ever impose an obligation upon others to fulfill that “right.” We condemn bigotry as irrational and repugnant. The government should neither deny nor abridge any individual’s human rights, based upon sex, wealth, ethnicity, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference, or sexual orientation. Members of private organizations retain their rights to set whatever standards of association they deem appropriate, and individuals are free to respond with ostracism, boycotts, and other free-market solutions.

3.6 Representative Government

We support non-partisan election systems and representative of the electorate at all levels. All candidates must run and stand as independents for a UNITED INDEPENDENTS’ CONGRESS and should not be funded by any person, group or party. Each candidate, once nominated by local constituents only, shall be given equal access to the media, town halls and public debates if they meet the eligibility criteria of age, knowledge and experience to serve. Members of their respective constituency will be the only nominators and the constituents will be the only support group behind the candidates, who must also live in the geographical area that they seek to represent.

The UIC’s electoral system will recognize no party colours, symbols or seating in the process or the structure of our governance. There will be no provisions, implicit or explicit, for political parties, partisan politics or any other form of group or divisions. Instead of a parliament, we shall establish a non-partisan state with a congress of independents. This congress will have a President elected nationally; 3 Vice Presidents, 1 elected by each county; 14 Senators, 1 elected by each parish; and 33 or more Representatives, 1 elected for each constituency or district.

The Executive Branch, consisting of the President, the General Secretary and Treasury Secretor, elected on the presidential ticket, plus the 3 Vice Presidents, will nominate Heads of Departments or Secretaries (formerly Ministers of Government) who will then be vetted publicly by the Senate and voted in or out by the House of Representatives. These Heads of Departments will not be elected politicians, but rather highly qualified Jamaicans in their areas of responsibilities, recruited from anywhere they might be in the world. Once elected to office by the House of Representatives, they may only be removed by the same process: a request from the Executive, public review by the Senate and a vote by the House of Representatives. This process also applies to the Judiciary.

3.7 Self-Determination

Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.

4.0 OMISSIONS

Our silence about any other particular government law, regulation, ordinance, directive, edict, control, regulatory agency, activity, or machination should not be construed to imply approval.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW IS THE UIC DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PARTIES?

  1. We will make Jamaica a NON-PARTISAN CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC that protects your rights and freedom as a sovereign citizen.
  2. We will defend your LIFE, LIBERTY and PROPERTY with a system that protects you from those who may wish to use unprovoked force or fraud to take them from you.
  3. We will ensure the government succeeds at creating a SAFE, CLEAN and ORDERLY society where you may live, work and retire with dignity in your own country.

HOW WILL THE UIC IMPROVE THE ECONOMY? 

1. Our New Jamaica Constitution will eliminate regulation or red tape that infringes on your right to freely trade with whomever you wish at whatever price you and your buyer or seller voluntarily agree.

2. You will have a truly free and fair market economy where the government protects you from those who use unprovoked force or fraud in their activities.

3. We will empower entrepreneurs to achieve maximum productivity, sales and profits by providing a very low tax, red tape free, quality infrastructure environment.

4. This will generate new and better jobs as we reduce the size, cost and red tape of government so that more money flows into the productive sectors of your economy.

5. We will reduce your taxes from a high of over 40% by replacing all, except the GCT, with a flat 10% income tax so that you get to keep 90% of your income to invest as you desire.

6. The GCT sales tax will be reduced from 16.5% to 10% and dedicated to helping low-income families access good nutrition, quality education, reasonable healthcare and decent housing.

7. By eliminating taxes like property tax, import duties and land transfer taxes, we will increase economic activity, reduce the cost of doing business across Jamaica and bring down your cost of living significantly.

HOW WILL THE UIC IMPROVE EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE & HOUSING?

1. We will create a vibrant, diverse and meritocratic education system that empowers every child with the knowledge and skills they need to build and maintain a healthy mind, body and character that allows them to interact well with others; form lasting personal and professional relationships; while fully understanding and managing money effectively regardless of their chosen vocation or trade.

2. We will ensure every child is being properly nourished and cared for to enjoy optimal mental and physical development as a valued member of our society that is expected to hold their own as very responsible adults.

3. We will redesign the healthcare, education and housing sector to realize the diversity, efficiency and effectiveness of a market economy to allow the best minds among us to produce and deliver quality solutions that benefit all Jamaicans.

4. We will dedicate the GCT to ensuring every citizen has access to good nutrition, education, housing and healthcare by providing employment for the unemployed to help them earn and meet their obligations as parents.

HOW WILL THE UIC eliminate the culture of corruption, poverty and crime in Jamaica?

1. Jamaica is corrupt by its very design and as such requires the new constitution that we will provide us with the effective checks and balances necessary to eliminate the structures that make it easy for politicians to defraud and mislead the public.

2. We will make Jamaica a non-partisan constitutional republic by way of a referendum. Our new constitution will ensure effective separation of powers, lower the cost of government to taxpayers, and eliminate the red tapes that incentivize corruption and gets in the way of our productivity and prosperity.

3. We know that political corruption is the leading cause of poverty and crime in Jamaica. It undermines the economy and reduces the effectiveness of our police and justice system while diverting tax dollars away from where they are most needed. We will eliminate this culture of corruption at its source.

4. We will replace the Governor-General and Prime Minister with an elected President; elect 3 County Vice Presidents; elect 14 Independent Senators (1 per parish) instead of 21 partisan appointees; and elect 33 Independent Representatives (who must live in their constituency) instead of 63 partisan Members of Parliament. The Executive branch will nominate Ministers (Heads of Departments or Secretaries) who will be publicly vetted by the Senate and voted in or out by the Representatives. Together, the Executive, Senate and Representative will form a United Independents’ Congress instead of a divided House of Parliament.

WHAT GUIDES THE UIC’s FOREIGN POLICY?

The UIC will rescind and block all U.N. agendas foisted upon us, including POCA, NIDS, CLIMATE CHANGE and the DEPOPULATION AGENDAS, including mandatory vaccination. This will include the dismantling of the Ministry of Climate Change and reforming the Ministry of Health and Wellness to focus on preventive medicine and natural remedies. The term "climate change" will be replaced by “healthful living” as we move to protect the ecosystem of life. Further, the expansion of 5G into Jamaica will be prohibited until it is proven safe. 5G cell towers and satellites could be the kill switch for humanity and would bring a cancer epidemic upon Jamaica like never before.

WHAT IS THE UIC POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

We affirm your natural right to be free – to determine what is best for yourself while respecting the equal rights of others. Therefore, the only moral justification and rightful purpose of government are to protect your life, your liberty and your property from any person, group or authority that might wish to use unprovoked force or fraud to take them from you. To this end, we will establish a system of good governance to protect the individual's liberty, promote personal responsibility and provide a safe, clean and orderly society for you to achieve your full capacity. This is the only sure foundation on which to build a truly free, great and prosperous nation.

WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE UIC?

JOSEPH L. PATTERSON, Chartered Professional Accountant, Social Entrepreneur & Good Governance Advocate.

Joseph L. Patterson, BAccS, CPA, CGA is President and Founder of the United Independents' Congress (UIC), a new political party in Jamaica. 

He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 25 years of experience in finance, business and leadership. He works with clients in Jamaica, North America and Europe and has held such positions as Financial Controller, Director of Finance, VP of Finance, CFO and CEO in the private, public and non-profit sectors. 

His international work involves more than 120 countries, including being Chairman of the board of a $146 billion Netherlands based global social impact investment cooperative with over four decades of experience in sustainable development in microfinance, agriculture and renewable energy. Mr. Patterson is also the founder-president of YES Jamaica, a foundation that mentors and funds young entrepreneurs in Jamaica. He has been married to Charlet, his high school sweetheart, for over 25 years. They have three beautiful children and live on their permaculture farm in North East St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, where he is the UIC’s candidate for Member of Parliament.

Mr. Patterson was born in 1971 in the rough of Kingston to Ruth Williams, a then factory worker and single mother of three. He went to live with his more affluent father, Joseph Senior, in Portmore, St. Catherine, at age 11 after completing Dunrobin Primary School. Having failed the Common Entrance Examination twice, he was enrolled at Spanish Town Secondary School where he would go on to become the Head Boy, Student Council President, Science Club Founder-President, Drama Club Founder-President, Debate Team Captain and winner of the All-Island Secondary Schools’ Challenge Quiz as Team Captain.

He then went on to St. Andrew Technical High School where he was again Head Boy, Student Council President, Key Club President (representing Jamaica twice int the USA), Math Club Founder-President, Literary Club Editor, and winner of the Gleaner Article Writing Competition Gold Medal for his essay on Youth & Community Development. Mr. Patterson also won a full scholarship to study Engineering at the University of Technology (then CAST) where he was twice elected President of the Debating Society and was President of the Circle K Club. He also founded The Associate Investors Group, an investment club on campus that brought together students of diverse disciplines to build a profitable stock portfolio.

After a short stint as a teacher and engineer in Jamaica, Mr. Patterson migrated to Canada where earned a degree in finance, earned the CPA, CGA designations and became a financial leader, working across the private and public sectors. He served in the territorial government as the youngest Director of Financial Reporting & Controls where he developed effective systems and tools to ensure full accountability in all government departments and ministries. He also built an accounting and tax practice that focused on helping start-ups realize their full potential. Then he went into venture capital financing and now owns a few companies with a focus on investing for impact. 

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