ROUND TOWN, the jokes are about the "breakfront" replacing the "cabinet". Usually, our people acquire their breakfronts on hire purchase. In our politics, however, there is little room to trust now and pay later. Nation-building these days leaves very little wiggle room.

Should the Cabinet have been smaller? Is the difference between 18 and 20 that much? Can we afford it? Of course, the response might have been different had Mrs Simpson Miller, while in Opposition, not criticised Mr Golding's cabinetry. So, 'tideh fi mi, tomorrow fe yuh" and the electorate is in no mood to play "tit fe tat, butter fe fish". Right now, everybody just wants to see things settled into place with some positive signs of where we are going.

In the criticism over the size of the Cabinet, a headline emerged yelling: "Jobs for the girls". The headline drew attention to a JLP media release in which questions were raised about the inclusion of MPs Natalie Neita-Headley of East Central St Catherine, who has been appointed minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for sports; Lisa Hanna, MP for South East St Ann, whose remit is to administer the affairs of youth and culture; and former Senator Sandrea Falconer, who has been called to the OPM to have responsibility for information.

The headline: "Jobs for the girls" could be interpreted as the women receiving special treatment. There have been mutterings that Mrs Neita-Headley has no known connection to sports. Can she cross it? The chat-bout circuit has candidates they would've liked to see in the post, especially as sports hold high hopes for national advancement. For this reason too, it is felt that it is too important a matter to be tacked on to the list of "things to do" at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Those who know Mrs Neita-Headley say she is up to the task, with certification at the Bachelor's and Master's levels in administration and human resource development. She served the nation before in the Ministry of Labour.

Ms Falconer's résumé might appear a little slimmer. Media is her field. She served on the staff of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) in its closing days, and did public relations for Air Jamaica. She was appointed to the Senate in 2007.

When the public guessing game was on as to who would be placed where, the name of Lisa Hanna was high on just about every list. She had caught the public's eye with her performance in the election youth issues debate. She retained her seat in the South East St Ann constituency with a handsome lead and her constituents are proud of her.

She's trained in media with a Master's degree to back it up. Those who still think of her as "just a beauty queen" should think again. She is no dolly-baby. Many persons believe youth and culture will be the richer for her stewardship. Miss Hanna has long moved past the beauty queen tag, which is sometimes brought out as if you have to be ugly to be an effective worker. Mash down that lie!

So, why the snide remarks about "jobs for the girls"? They say Mrs Neita-Headley is a cousin of Mrs Simpson-Miller. So? Does that mean she must be excluded? The chat-bout has never forgotten that Sandrea was one of Mrs Simpson Miller's bridesmaids. The stigma of favouritism can be easily attached but not so easily removed. In this atmosphere there is no doubt that these women will be closely watched.

AND WHAT OF OTHERS across the aisle? On Tuesday, former minister of sports and culture Miss Olivia 'Babsy' Grange created what one media source called "an awkward moment" for the woman who succeeds her in the sports niche. At a pre-Olympics event, she decided to "school" Mrs Neita-Headley in the Grange achievements by introducing her publicly to the Green Paper on a national sports policy which was developed during the past administration.

From the report, Miss Grange's decision to hand over the document unannounced at a public function caught Mrs Neita-Headley off guard. It was clumsy at best and, according to sources, inappropriate at most. To the new minister's credit, it is reported that she handled the situation with grace and humour and came out on the winning end.

It must be very hard for Miss Grange to see the parade going by without her, after being at the helm of all the preparation for the Olympics, as well as having led various delegations to the many overseas events.

Now, someone else will take the spotlight. It must be a difficult pill to swallow, but we have to stay cool, Miss B. what you achieved cannot be erased. Politics is not an easy road. As they say in high fashion, one day you're in, the next day you're out. Life goes on.

THE NEXT BIT of nonsense which caught my eye was the concern that there is no portrait of former PM Holness on the walls at Jamaica House. How could it be otherwise? His tenure was barely three months. Had he remained in office, there is no doubt that in time, his likeness would've joined the other oil paintings hanging on the wall.

Over the years, the commissions for the Prime Ministerial portraits have gone to master artist Barrington Watson, highly regarded as Jamaica's premier portrait painter. (His retrospective exhibition opened last Sunday at the National Gallery, as a Jamaica-50 event).

The portraits at Jamaica House are part of the nation's historical records. Official portraiture is not taken lightly. The objective is not achieved in a flash like a photograph. This requires artistic skill and patience on the part of both the individual whose image is being captured and the artist. Since former PM Holness is part of history, no matter how short was his reign, his likeness will have to be added to the portrait gallery — but it takes time.

There is no official portrait of Mrs Simpson Miller, as yet. I would have assumed that there was enough time after she first occupied the office for her likeness to have been immortalised by now. The one which currently hangs at Ja House is from her personal collection, we're told.

It is time also to replace a rather awkward photograph of Mr Golding with the official portrait. Till the right one is done, it would be better to remove the little photo altogether; if it has to be a photograph, at least print one on canvas, at the appropriate size for display. (Why we can't do things properly?) So, now we know all these important (and some will prefer inconsequential) details, can we get on with the business of the day, please?

HEAR ME NOW: Why are we still arguing about whether we should change Her Majesty the Queen for a President of our own? Even she must be tired of the hauling and pulling of her name. In its response to the latest chat-bout, Buckingham Palace couldn't be plainer. "It is Jamaica's business". All that was missing was a royal command: "Shut up and get on with it!"

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