A moment that will define Mr Holness

Friday, October 07, 2011

Barring any challenges, Mr Andrew Holness will, on November 19, become the new leader of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

The following day, at the public session of the party's annual conference, he will deliver to delegates, supporters, diplomats and the wider Jamaica his first address as leader of one of the institutions that has had a profound impact on Jamaica's development for more than six decades.

That address will, we expect, define Mr Holness and his capacity to effectively lead the Labour Party and Jamaica in general. For shortly after that he will assume the office of ninth prime minister of Jamaica, replacing Mr Bruce Golding who has served in that post for the past four years.

We suspect as well, that young Jamaicans, especially those in Mr Holness's age group, will take a keen interest in his speech, as it will inform their decision when he and his party call on the electorate for another term in Government -- whether in a few months, as many of us speculate will be the case, or in September next year when general elections are constitutionally due.

As we have stated in this space in recent days, the new JLP leader, and subsequent chief executive, will have no honeymoon. He will have to hit the ground running, because this country is faced with serious issues which must be addressed urgently in order to improve the lives of the people for whom Jamaica is home.

We have already stated our belief that Jamaica's overseas partners will welcome Mr Holness's stated commitment to continuity and to honouring Jamaica's international obligations. That, we hold, is crucial to keeping the Government's economic programme on track -- a programme that, we acknowledge, is painful but necessary, given what the administration inherited when it came to office in 2007.

However, we contend that even within the tight fiscal space that the multinational institutions have determined that the administration must work to improve the economy, the Government must find more room to address the social conditions of the majority of Jamaicans.

That, we acknowledge, will not be easy, but it is necessary if the administration hopes to win public support for its policies.

It will be important, therefore, for Mr Holness and his Cabinet to carefully examine the areas in the public service where there exists wastage of funds in order to redirect those resources to the services that will create a cushion for the people who are most affected by the sluggish economy.

There is no shortage of those areas of waste, as they are highlighted at almost each meeting of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. In many cases, the misapplication is so heavy that we are puzzled by the absence of sanctions against those whose carelessness and nonchalance are costing taxpayers dearly.

The Government, we believe, can make a big difference in people's lives, as well as instil a culture of professionalism in the public service if it gives serious attention to this folly.

What is required is the political will to do it. We'll see if Mr Holness has it in him.

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COMMENTS (7)

Chuck Emanuel
10/8/2011

We will also be looking for a statement of apology and regret to the Nation for the un-wavering and un-solicited support to the PM by these people during the Dudus/MPP saga.

Concern Jamaican
10/7/2011

This man was coached by Eddie and Bruce, do see any similarity in the way he handle the JTA situation and how Eddie run things in the 1980s? Anyone who would vote for JLP after what transpired in the period 1980 to 1989 would have to be the rich private sector, those same persons who put up 100 million to have their man Bruce in place, the die hearted Laborites or persons who during the 1980s was too young to understand what happened then. The JLP won the last election because of those I mentioned last, the young persons, and they achieved this by saying just the right things that would appeal to them. Now they are using the youths again, only this time they are putting up a youth to convince the youths.

Jakan 2011
10/7/2011

Will he sure has but political will is yet to be seen. @ David A, good point. I am concerned about the teachers' factor for there is no where wherein anyone gets on in that manner with teachers and survive a public/national vote. The other publication reports he has been sued. That is not a good way to start.

Evan Archer
10/7/2011

Hopefully, Mr. Holness will have many defining leadership achievements, and not just a defining moment , through an inaugaural speech.
On Election night 2007, Mr. Golding, performed eloquently . Most promises since, were short on delivery.
The tasks ahead of Mr. Holness, are monumental . There are many ' rivers to cross ' . Verbal eloquence, will not solve them . Tolerance and a tested capacity to negotiate diplomatically, are useful skills - no one, likes being dictated to.

PL BOGLE
10/7/2011

I have a very skeptical attitude towards Mr Holness's abilities to be an effective leader, I'm also doubtful he is well equipped with the solutions to solve the challenges of the Jamaican economy. I'm also very concern about his ministry miscalculation of over $600 million of teachers' back pay. $2.5 billion was budgeted while only $1.89 billion was paid out by his Ministry. This was a revelation that the education ministry was not certain about the number of teachers it employs.

David Armstrong
10/7/2011

We have to be careful that we don't put too much expectations on Mr. Holness to meet the big challenges that he will be faced when he takes the rein of power in his party and the govt. In my opinion Mr. Holness does not have a strong track record of leadership and that is definitely a hurdle he will have to overcome very fast. without this experienc he might not be able to make bold changes like Michael Manley did as PM. MM had strong leadeship qualities that he acquired from his trade union.

Tajai Grant
10/7/2011

Great Editorial, Its now up to Andrew

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A moment that will define Mr Holness