THE EDITOR, Sir:
I MUST first join in congratulating Portia Simpson Miller on her victory in becoming the President of the PNP and soon Prime Minister of Jamaica. She led a very successful campaign and the delegates have made their choice. However, most Jamaicans are of the view that a new leader in the PNP will lead the PNP into a fifth term in the next General Election. The electorate are using wrong reasons to support the PNP at this time at the expense of all Jamaicans.
Some of the reasons for supporting Minister Simpson Miller are as follows: she is from the bowel of the poor and will do extremely well; she is the first female President who will outdo all her predecessors; Mama P has come home for her children; she will solve the crime problems because of her compassion and humility; give the woman a chance. The issue has even turned into one of gender where majority of the female contingency are supporting Portia merely because of her gender.
I want to caution the electorate that we cannot expect any miracles too soon. Sister P is not going to wave her magic wand and everything will be alright in Jamaica. We must put the issues on the table and assess them carefully. We first need to realise that we now have a new leader but old policies, Will this leader get the chance or time to change these policies and show us her direction for the country before the next General Election?
MAKE DEMANDS
How will she address the high crime rate, high interest rate, unemployment, corruption, economic development and growth for Jamaica, transforming of the educational system and so many other problems? Are we going to demand these from Portia Simpson? Are we going to let the PNP administration trick us into calling an early election and push these issues under the table until they have won the fifth term?
I want the electorate to realise that we cannot gamble with Jamaica any longer, but instead be on red alert and participate fully in the country's affairs leading up to the next General Election. The time is right for the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica to start planning a national debate between Portia Simpson Miller and Bruce Golding as all of us hope and look forward to a better Jamaica.
I am, etc.,
ROOGAE KIRLEW
President of the Mt. Industry Youth Club & Civic Association
