THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT IS with pride that I welcome our first female Prime Minister-designate and wish for her a whole lot of success. It will be a tough road for her, but if she manages the goodwill that she has from the Jamaican people in a humble way, the people will reward her with their cooperation.
I would suggest that the Government Senators all resign so that she will have greater latitude in selecting Ministers from that body. I would urge her to look to Pearnel Charles to lead the Ministry of National Security. Pearnel has proven in the past that he can be an effective Minister. He has a warm personality and I think that the people will rally behind him. It will also prevent any gangster, gunman or any community that supports them from invoking the usual tendency to say that the policing is being done on a Party basis.
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
I also think that Captain Horace Burrell should be placed in the Cabinet via the Senate. He has had a close working relationship with Madame Portia on the successful Road to France Campaign.
It cannot be business as usual. The people are looking for fundamental changes and just 'hugging up' the same people in the same old way is not going to work. I know that her party members who were not with her during the campaign will be up in arms against her if she crosses over to the Opposition benches for help.
Madame Portia, it is the right thing to do and it will signal to the Jamaican people that you want to break down political tribalism and forge co-operation across all sectors of the country. Good luck, Madame Portia. It is time to rock the boat.
I am, etc.,
SHAWN JOHNSON
jamaicanshawn@yahoo.com
Mandeville
Via Go-Jamaica
