A new JLP emerging with Mr Holness at the helm

Thursday, October 06, 2011

THE country witnessed yesterday the pleasant drama of an inspired Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) at work.

Cognisant, no doubt, of a dreadfully fractious history in which the slightest expression of interest in leadership regime change, or aspiration to lead, had plunged the party into almost internecine warfare, the JLP made its own new history at the Terra Nova Hotel.

The decision of the JLP parliamentary caucus to coalesce around a single candidate, the 39-year-old Mr Andrew Holness, is an unprecedented sign of maturity that has immediately revived hopes of the possibility of a new political order on the horizon.

More to the point, the ability of all the leadership aspirants — Messrs Christopher Tufton, Audley Shaw, Kenneth Baugh and Robert Montague — to rise above their personal ambition in the interest of party and country, marks the emergence of a new JLP.

We are aware that the party's delegates will have to ratify yesterday's decision, but all that seems to be a foregone conclusion, given that the aspirants who had made their desires known have thrown their support behind Mr Holness.

We offer heartiest congratulations to Mr Holness, the education minister, on winning the support and respect of so many of his colleagues despite his relatively youthful years as a politician.

Watching Mr Holness from a distance, we ourselves have noticed his level-headedness and ability to see beyond the constraints of the partisan divide.

For example, he embraced the Cuban light-bulb programme, saying it had been very beneficial for his constituents, particularly the poor among them. We know of others, not unlike some Republican governors who rejected President Obama's economic stimulus programme, who would have played politics with a People's National Party (PNP) programme.

Naturally, we don't pretend that he is suddenly perfect, recalling the incident sometime ago when he had shown unreasonable, shall we say youthful, obstinacy in refusing to shake the hand of Political Ombudsman Herro Blair who had ruled against him.

But we are prepared to endorse his sensible caution that we as a nation should not be lost in the moment and forget the real difficulties that we face at this terrible juncture of world history.

Mr Holness, upon his swearing-in as prime minister, will carry the hopes — and burden — of the post-Independent generations who have known only the fruits of our tribal politics. He is a child of the computer age and information, born in the time of consumer awareness when ideas take precedence over party membership. Much is therefore being expected of him.

As we have indicated before, we do not get carried away with the issue of age. We believe, however, that Mr Holness is not too young to embrace the current drive to reform our politics, through campaign finance reform, stamping out corruption and promoting a culture of transparency.

We would also suggest that he revisits the job creation programme of the Bruce Golding administration which has not worked. The need to provide jobs has not dissipated, as evidenced by the fuss created over the PNP's JEEP (Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme).

Mr Holness' commitment to continuity and to honour Jamaica's international obligations will be welcomed by our overseas partners.

Yesterday's development and its promises are clear indications that a new JLP is emerging with Mr Holness at the helm.

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COMMENTS (15)

Jakan 2011
10/7/2011

@ Adam G, I'm not holding any brief for PSM but all the great strides in sports can be traced directly to her hard work. We grew leaps and bounds under her leadership therein. As well, pretty much all things to do with community support/welfare programs go to her creative thinking too (and hard work).

wanda woeman
10/7/2011

@Devon T, if you only knew? If you only knew? I have paid my dues more than many of these politicians ever will and most of it gratis.
But then one should never blow their own trumpet. I only mentioned because you asked.
I have never asked for anything for myself. All I ask is that we have good governancne, which is that we do not have a lying and arrogant govt.
I do not even fault a govt for making mistakes, as long as they are honest, because you can't make mistakes if you don't try.

Trevor Harris
10/7/2011

We hope for the sake of Ja this choice is a wise one.Everyone including the Observer seem to see the elevation of Mr Holness as the panacea for all of Ja ills .The groundswell is overwhelming.This man had been a minister for just over 4 years people.Stop it! All of this has been done for political expediency and nothing else.

Devon T
10/7/2011

with commentators like Wanda woeman and Ms N Johnson, i feel obliged to add my piece. Can either of you two ladies (i presume you are not wolves in sheep's clothing) List in bold print what you have done to make Jamaica or indeed your own community a better place? I just felt that as you clamour for your corners, you seem to be asking everything right but as a great man once said..."when you go to God in prayer, dont ask God for another favour..Ask God what you can do for him." One Love

fall mouth
10/6/2011

I thought with the emergence of Mr. Holness the lying would stop. We have Mr. Chuck saying in the Gleaner today that the appointment of Mrs. P as Custos is not political, but he does not explain.
We have Mr. Lyn, a very respected JP and former President of the Lay Mag Association of JA, acting as Custos for the last six months, being removed for Mrs. P who was not even a J.P. and Mr. C who is the MOJ, saying that this is not political.
Mr. Holness please tell them to stop as this will reflect badly on you and will be the same old same old.l

Mark Forbes
10/6/2011

Mr Editor, While this may signify maturity, it is definitely not political maturity. Political maturity would be when aspirants are prepared to accept the result of a democratic process and not backroom haggling.
@RED ANTS, soon the Observer will be trying to sell us on Seaga's young daughter!

Meat Head
10/6/2011

If the sole criteria for leadership is to have political accomplishments a mile long, then only fossils need apply. Then we will get what we always have had, more and more of the same - garrissons, head fakes with retreaded ideas (like JEEP) to sway the gullible, etc. What we need most, are fresh, pragmatic ideas to take the economy and the country to the next level. We are more likely to see that in younger politicians.

Tom Stroke
10/6/2011

Excellent editorial. Congratulations to the JLP for displaying such gigantic level of maturity. I say kudos to the older JLP stalwarts who recognised the signs of the time and rose above personal ambitions to endorse Mr Holness. This speaks well of them that country is paramount. Mr Holness will have to hit the ground running since the hope and dreams of this generation now rest on his shoulder. His job will not be easy, since the forces of tribalism are still alive and well. However, with the support of those experience stalwarts who support you Mr Holness, I wish you all the success, since your success is Jamaica’s success.

Adam Godson
10/6/2011

(1)Brilliant cartoon this morning.
(2)To those wondering about Mr Holness' achievments,what were Mrs Simpson miller's acomplishments before becoming PM? Certainly the improvement of the lot of her constituents was not one of them.
(3)Its heartwarming to see the concern that confessed pnp supporters have for the ambitions of JLP mp's. But is it because they think it is easier for their party to win if certain people,who they name, head the JLP? It makes one wanda why they are so concerned .

Al Vanawic
10/6/2011

We can only judge the new PM by his own works, which is yet to come. He could be a great PM if he only avoid the pitfalls of his former boss. Mr. Golding has left the rule book of, WHAT NOT TO DO, for all politicians.

David Armstrong
10/6/2011

The headline of your editorial is misleading and inaccurate. How can you say that a new JLP is emerging with mr. Holness at the helm when the JLP has not changed their manifesto. Until you hear what direction Mr. Holness will chart for the JLP and indeed the govt. you cannot draw the conclusion that this is a new JLP. All that has changed is the leadership and this new leader albeit of a younger generation than previous leaders is a product of the old JLP. Come on Editor you can do a better job.

wanda woeman
10/6/2011

In your ringing endorsement you say : "More to the point, the ability of all the leadership aspirants — Messrs Christopher Tufton, Audley Shaw, Kenneth Baugh and Robert Montague — to rise above their personal ambition in the interest of party and country, marks the emergence of a new JLP."
But surely Mr. Editor this is not all. We haven't heard a peep out of the ambitious if aged chairman, Mike Henry. So this can't be all. He wasn't even at the press conference.
And what about Pearnel?l

wanda woeman
10/6/2011

The sheen is blinding me.

Nadine Johnson
10/6/2011

Observer can you print all of Mr Holness Achivement in Education are anything big that he has done. I only know him as young and ??? What are his Achivement what are the big things he vote on in Parliment? If you wash a running green shirt with a white one what colour would you get when it done? What will Mr Holness do different for me to say yes youth time???

RED ANTS
10/6/2011

How newer can the JLP get? i was hearing this very saying only a few years ago.as this become a newer Jamaican proverb?

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A new JLP emerging with Mr Holness at the helm