Lambert BrownFor 64 years, Jamaica has enjoyed a relatively effective multiparty system which has sustained and ensured the survival of our democratic system of governance. We can be justly proud as we celebrate 46 years of Independence, that despite minor hiccups along the way, we passed the test of democracy with flying colours. Our two major political parties, despite their weaknesses, must be given a lot of credit for contributing positively to this reality. Many other countries at our stage of development have failed miserably the challenges of democracy, decency and development. There is no question that we are not now at the point where, potentially, we could have been, had political tribalism not divided and blinded us in our quest to overcome the challenges of development facing us in the global environment. The political parties and their internal affairs can potentially retard or advance the interest of the nation. For this reason, the upcoming leadership contest in the People's National Party (PNP) deserves our scrutiny.
Portia Simpson Miller has been the leader of that party since defeating Peter Phillips in a contest supervised by the Electoral Office of Jamaica in February 2006. The fairness of that election has never been publicly challenged. However, there are those who believe that the wrong person won that election. They have never forgiven her or given her many opportunities for success. For some, she came from the wrong side of the social and economic track. She, being from humble 'Trench Town' and 'Wood Hall', rather than from or near the elitist 'Drumblair'.
justifying political heresy
For this group, it was always 'better for the PNP to lose an election and be in opposition than for Portia Simpson Miller to be president of the party'. They have even sought to justify this political heresy by saying that the PNP's best days have been while in opposition. The tremendous achievements of the PNP over the 33 years of governing Jamaica is downplayed in the very year the party celebrates 70 years of service to the nation. The successes of the P.J. Patterson and Portia Simpson Miller tenure in government must, in their eyes, be sacrificed on the altar of elitism.
On the other hand, they are those in the PNP and in the wider society who doubted the ability of Portia Simpson Miller to lead the PNP. "Did she have the capacity?", they asked. As one former minister of government enquired, how would she be introduced to foreign leaders? Would it be as Dr Phillips, Dr Blythe, Dr Davis or simply 'Comrade' Simpson Miller? The cynicism was thicker than the solid rock of Gibraltar. Now, there can be no doubt that she passed the international test with very high marks. Not one mistake in her meetings and interactions with kings, princes, presidents, prime ministers and heads of international organisations was made. This contrived lack of capacity and competence has been exposed by real-life experience for what it is: the babblings of elitist and anti-poor snobbery. Her detractors should now abandon this argument to the dust bin of dishonesty.
full cooperation
On the other hand, there are those who doubted whether Simpson Miller got full cooperation from some of her defeated colleagues during her 18 months as prime minister. Some point to opposition starting within the very first week of her becoming prime minister. The placement of Dr Fenton Ferguson to the Ministry of Health was challenged. To appease her opponents and promote unity, it is said she changed her decision and Ferguson was reverted to the Ministry of Water. In her first Budget speech within two months of becoming prime minister, the lack of cooperation became evident. No real input into the speech came from the Ministry of National Security. Instead, shortly after the prime minister's speech, the minister made a major announcement about border-control measures. I am informed that the content of this announcement was never part of the brief from the Ministry of National Security to the Office of the Prime Minister.
Sources close to Jamaica House lamented that it was only hours before Portia Simpson Miller was due to make her maiden Budget speech in Parliament that critical information sought from the Ministry of Education was provided to the Office of the Prime Minister, despite strenuous efforts to obtain the information weeks before.
It would seem that in the expectation of an election, Simpson Miller was prepared to bend over backward and maintain party unity with those who wished for her demise. Her magnanimity, instead of being appreciated, was rejected by those to whom it was directed.
PNP defeat
In September, after 18 years in power, the PNP was defeated in the narrowest of electoral results in the history of national elections in Jamaica. An internal PNP appraisal committee headed by Professor Brian Meeks of the University of the West Indies and other non-PNP members credited Portia Simpson Miller with saving the PNP from an electoral wipe-out. In other Caribbean countries, such as The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, St Lucia and Grenada, ruling parties have been routed from power. Worldwide, ruling parties are being defeated, be it the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy or Australia. The Gleaner/Bill Johnson polls have recently put the Simpson Miller-led PNP six per cent ahead of the ruling JLP. A challenge to Portia Simpson Miller, at this time, seems like political stupidity. It would be tantamount to committing political suicide. However, democracy does allow for such a challenge. The interest of Jamaica requires a strong and vibrant multiparty system. If the challenge contributes to that reality, the nation would be better off. However, if it leads to an irreconcilable division and the neutering of an important watchdog of our democracy, then Jamaica would have been short-changed.
Lambert Brown is president of the University and Allied Workers' Union and can be contacted at labpoyh@yahoo.com. Feedback may also be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.
