PhD has been given a number of new meanings: "Portia Has Delegates" to "Peter's Hopes Dashed" and hopefully, "Portia Halts Decay". For Mama Portia, certain challenges have to be faced, among them are the following:

.You have to decide whether you want to be PM for 18 months or five years.

At age 60 you have at the maximum two terms. Probably you will serve one term and three years leaving two years for your successor to get accustomed to the position. Eighteen months will not be sufficient time to meet a significant portion of the great expectations placed upon you personally and to revise the negative imagery of the Patterson-led regime.

.Your charge is to lead the PNP to the fifth term.

Victory in the next general election is your mission. You will be given only one chance - fail and you will be replaced as party president (that is, if you do demit office voluntarily). It would be wise for you to capitalise on the new vibrancy in the party organisation and the outpouring of goodwill across the nation.

Accordingly, the general elections should be called as soon as all the PNP candidates are in place. Encourage and support more women candidates.

Sister P, you will have to keep hope alive and seek your own mandate before you will be able to deliver.

.In the immediate term, Sister P, you must signal your intention to make a difference, if only in approach.

Cut substantially the number of ministries. This is the opportune time as this has been recommended by the Nettleford Committee and some of them were rewards created by your predecessor; not to mention that some people displayed their lack of confidence in your leadership abilities publicly.

Retire immediately those ministers who have indicated that they are not contesting the next general election. Their pensions are safe and secure, but they lack the drive and enthusiasm needed.

Consequently, you will have a very limited panel in the Lower House from which to choose your caretaker Cabinet. Although senators are appointed for the life of Parliament, pressure must be brought to bear for them to do the "honourable" thing and tender their resignations (similar to the position taken by the Cabinet) in order to allow you some flexibility.

Hence, you can now bring in new faces with the required expertise. However, the minister of finance must be a member of the Lower House, so you have a special challenge there. That aside, the number of women appointed to the Senate must be dramatically increased.

.Literally, keep in touch with the people.

Sister P, you draw your energy from close contact with your people - they can touch, hug and kiss you. That will present a security nightmare for a PM's protection detail. But you must resist isolation and insulation. Mama is mama - the source of comfort, consolation, commiseration and confidence.

The hopes and aspirations of the black masses are now embodied in the persona of Portia. You are seen as the people's advocate and not the public relations officer of the government. Hence, you will have to publicly hold your government responsible and accountable for acts of commission and acts of omission.

Your support is principally among the marginalised: blacks, women and youth. You will never be popular among those who consider you as being of the "wrong stock", lacking in "capacity", etc etc, etc. Some are anxiously forecasting your failures, malapropisms or misfortunes. Others are actively engendering such; while some merely wait. Your people want and need mama.

.There are very limited options available now.
Nevertheless, there are areas where you can manoeuvre - redouble measures to create a more efficient and customer-friendly administration, cut down on the waste, clean up the corruption and "bun" cronyism.

You will never solve most of the problems currently being experienced by Jamaicans. Many were not created by you and many will form part of your legacy. Your mission is to improve the lot of Jamaicans so that they will be better off for your interventions. Select your priorities that are deliverable in the short run and stick to the schedules.

As prime minister, you will have the defence portfolio. My suggestion is that you retain youth, sports and community development. This will facilitate your keeping in touch.

.You have to be around to deliver and fulfil expectations.

Be careful not to make the comparison with Michael Manley too close. All interpretations are intended. Nuff said.

Dr Paul Ashley is an attorney-at- law. ashlaw@cwjamaica.com

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