File photo
Patterson shares a joyful moment at a press conference with election campaign manager, Maxine Henry-Wilson.Matthew Falloon, Staff Reporter
In Mandeville, Manchester, on Monday night, before the final meeting of the People's National Party (PNP) election campaign, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson was confident.
"The support has been massive," he told The Sunday Gleaner. "The outpouring of the spirit has been tremendous. The people have expressed themselves in very positive ways and in a variety of forms, their appreciation of what the Government has done, their recognition that more remains to be done and that they still regard us as the best team capable of delivering the goods."
His words were to be prophetic as, on Wednesday, the country sent him back to Jamaica House.
What can Jamaica expect from the new PNP Government?
"The continuation of the process of building an economy, now that it rests on very sound pillars, which can achieve the required levels of growth. To increase jobs, particularly those that will involve the young people whom we have engaged in training. That we get on with the work on Highway 2000; segment two and segment three of the north coast highway.
"The major irrigation plans that we have for the south coast of Jamaica, the privatisation and expansion of Sangster airport (Montego Bay), the further modernisation of the Manley airport (Kingston), the sewerage schemes that we have for the Kingston and St. Andrew area, tackling the problem of urban upgrading. Completing the provision of universal basic school education by the year 2004, wiping out illiteracy by 2005, continuing to reduce the poverty rate, increasing access to tertiary education.
"Deepening the process of regional integration by the introduction of the Caribbean Single Market, the processes of constitutional change on which we have embarked, the further improvements to the justice system, the introduction of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the repatriation of the Jamaican constitution."
Young blood in party
The success of the PNP Government is attributed to rotation in Cabinet and the constant introduction of young blood.
"We have always engaged in a process of blending experience with renewal, and during the course of my Prime Ministerial tenure there have been changes in the Cabinet," he said. "Virtually every other Minister who has remained has been subject to some change so as to afford people an opportunity of contributing to the thinking and implementing process of the Government with a background of experience."
"Not just in this election but in previous ones," he continued. "We have always introduced a number of new candidates. This has allowed us to infuse the team at the representational level with new blood, with new energies, with new ideas."
The campaign was noticeable for the extensive use of the media and propaganda by both sides. Is the use of propaganda heplful to the democratic process?
"I have endeavoured to speak to the issues, I have refrained from engaging in character assassination," he said. "I think in a political campaign it is legitimate to quote what others have said on previous occasions. Whenever I have spoken about Mr. Seaga or made any reference to Mr. Golding I have relied on their own words."
His repeated claims of impartiality in the execution of policy came under a sharp attack from Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga, on Sunday last week, when the JLP leader labelled such claims as an "absolute lie".
How does the Prime Minister prove impartiality in a country riddled with the scourge of political tribalism?
"Well, I would ask you, first of all, to examine the manifesto put out by the Jamaica Labour Party and look at the pictures of progress," he said. "Every one is a picture taken during the tenure of the People's National Party.
"I would invite you to look at some of the lists of achievements put out by Members of Parliament, like Mr. Samuda (Karl Samuda, JLP MP for St. Andrew North Central), Mr. Shaw (Audley Shaw, JLP MP for Manchester North Eastern), Mr. Chuck (Delroy Chuck, JLP MP for St. Andrew North Eastern), Mr. Smith (Derrick Smith, JLP MP for St. Andrew North Western), and in every case you will find a list of things that have happened during the tenure of the People's National Party.
"In respect of Mr. Seaga's constituency, I have been insistent that when it comes to the allocation of discretional resources, he has got some allocation as the Leader of Opposition in any democratic country should receive. In the allocation of land and housing particularly, I have been insistent and the records will show that JLP people have benefited as much as PNP people.
"I have felt that the building of residences based on political affiliation is a recipe for division and I have resisted that," he said.
Mr. Patterson has gone public with the decision to step down as Prime Minister during this term. What confidence does he have in his team to lead the country after his departure? Where can the public draw confidence?
"It's based on our record, it's based on our vision, it's based on the unity which exists. At no time whatsoever have I said that no one can succeed me in my party because only I understand complex things. I have made it my duty to involve all members of the Cabinet in decision making and to ensure that they acquire the experience not only about their own ministries but about governance and what, as a team, we can do to build a better and more unified Jamaica," he said.
Is a unified Jamaica a realistic prospect?
"It has to be and I certainly intend to make that my principal focus in my own third term as Prime Minister and certainly the term during which I shall make my exit," he concluded.
