How did the PNP come to this?

Thursday, November 24, 2011

ONE can draw some hope from the two-paragraph press statement issued yesterday by the Jamaica Debates Commission (JDC) that, even at this eleventh hour, a resolution can be reached on the staging of a political debate between the leaders of the two major political parties.

Of course, the Commission gave no hint of where matters have reached, but the fact that the parties are still at the table is reason enough to believe that good sense will prevail.

Differences have arisen in the past over the political debates but none quite as ridiculous as the current. We recall that in 1997 the differences were about who the moderator should be. One side refused to accept the popular choice of a moderator by the Press Association of Jamaica, which was staging the debate at the time. The party strenuously objected to the outstanding journalist, Mr Cliff Hughes who had allegedly embarrassed one of the leaders. Eventually, the late Mr Dwight Whiley was selected as a compromise moderator and the debates went on.

While the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) and ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have agreed to refrain from further public comment on the current deliberations, until a joint public presentation is made under the JDC's banner, we feel compelled to wonder out loud. How did Mr Norman Manley's PNP manage to come to this sorry pass, where the perception is that efforts are being made to shield its leader, Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, from a one-on-one debate with Prime Minister Andrew Holness?

The PNP has come to be associated with the intelligentsia in the country; it gained the reputaton of being the party of ideas and the party which championed the greatest advancement in Jamaican education, under the leadership of Mr Norman Manley and his son Mr Michael Manley.

The truth is we don't share the view that Mrs Simpson Miller is an automatic loser in a political debate. Even though some believed that Mr Bruce Golding outshone her in the 2007 debate, she was most certainly not disgraced. As a longstanding Member of Parliament, and a minister of government over many years, she has a wide grasp of the business of governance and the issues facing the country.

In the same way one would not expect her to best Mr Golding in a debate, one would not expect Mr Golding to best Mr Michael Manley in a debate. Mrs Simpson Miller's gift is not of the gab.

Moreover, there is nothing that says that a Jamaican leader must be the best debater in the world. What we should take from a political debate are the candidates' clarity of thought on the issues and their articulation of the path they would take in dealing with the key problems facing the country. In the end, they are trying to convince voters that theirs is the better plan for the country. That's what counts.

If while doing so they can command the attention of the listeners as orators can, so much the better.

But it is not the nice words that are going to get this country out of the dreadful debt trap in which we find ourselves.

A one-on-one debate is not the worst thing that Mrs Simpson Miller will face in her quest to become leader of this country again.

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COMMENTS (13)

Ever Dunk
12/12/2011

Is Jamaica a banana republic? she got her chance and she blew it. Where was her during the cement debacle? she chose to do her nails than to attend a united nations conference. She has the record for being the late comer to our country,s parliament, members of her own party said derogitary things about her being academically challenged however if those same men said similar things about anyone else it would be gospel but regarding simpson miller we should not believe them.

Chuck Emanuel
11/24/2011

We can do both. We can debate, but we must also be eager to hold corrupt politicians ACCOUNTABLE.

Dane Connor
11/24/2011

The hallmark of esteemed journalism is objectivity; the gravestone of tabloid journalism is unrepentant partisanship. Dare I say the Observer has staked its claim on the latter.

David Barnaby
11/24/2011

The headline of this article betrayed what you wrote in the body. While you try to appear balanced in the views expressed you know very well that a large number of readers will not read beyond the headlines. Therein lies your true intent and to a great degree "Mission accomplished"

D, r. McIntyre
11/24/2011

Is it that she refused or is it that some of those abusive men in her party thinks that she is not up to the task?

fall mouth
11/24/2011

B.G. could talk his way out of anything (except the Manatt-Dudus episode) and even then he made a good try. Each person has their gifts and being able to talk is no guarantee that one will be able to walk the walk. It is strange that when Mrs. S-M was up against PP this same lot was saying that people didn’t have to be PhDs to run the country, but now they are placing great stock in being great debaters. I wouldn’t bet any money that Mrs. S-M would be a better debater than the new boy wonder but I would bet that she would do a better job running the country.
Why are you trying so hard Observer? Will something come out that affects you if the PNP wins?.

Adam Godson
11/24/2011

@brooklyn jamaican,what are you talking about "Mr Eloquent" did not finish his term? The rather eloquent Mr. Manley did finish his term in the 70's, and what a mess the country was in. Some of our present problems can be attributed to the mess that was the eloquent Mr Manley's 1970's regime. Although he did retire in his 2nd term due to ill health.
Please get the history correct.

Luv Quest
11/24/2011

This will go down in history. Debates are a normal part of a democratic political process. There are supporters who believe that a debate is not important; they would even go as far as referring to Mr. Golding being a good debater but he was unable to complete his term. So; to them a debate doesn’t matter. Nonsense! Only in JA where die-hard don’t care about leadership qualities just power. Well I’m sorry to say that it is a new day and we’ve only just begun. They want power to dodge the issues.

Donald Duncan
11/24/2011

It has been almost one week since the publication of the Auditor General's damning report on the JDIP and we have had no commentary from the Editor on this debacle yet we have since had 2 editorials on political debates - even Clovis has made a half-hearted attempt at zinging Mike Henry on the matter - come on Mr.Editor your green roots are badly exposed

Joe Robinson
11/24/2011

It is quite evident that the opposition is shielding their leader from participating in a one to one debate. I agree with the writer. Its not who is the better debater, but the candidates must have a clarity of thoughts on the issues facing the country and the path they would take in dealing with such problems. Its as easy as that. Any person or persons aspiring to lead a Nation should prove them self worthy of such a task. If you are seeking to be the Nations leader then you cant shy away.

Brooklyn Jamaican
11/24/2011

COME On Observer, don't be a coward, what happened to freedom of speech? Publish my posts

Jay Brown
11/24/2011

I say no job interview you simply do NOT get the job it is that simple. No organization anywhere in the world would employ someone without an opportunity to interview them first despite how impressive their resume appears.
Mrs PSM is being given bad advise my members of her team which will prove her downfall and her swift move into retirement.
If we are fighting to hear PSM and she does not yet have to report bad news to the public, can you imagine what she would say about the IMF deal.

Brooklyn Jamaican
11/24/2011

Bredren don't be so patent. Newspapers have a responsibility not to be a mouthpiece for any political party. This and the other paper seem to have become PR organs for the respective parties.
Everyone knows that Portia is not a great debater, but look what a mess Mr. Eloquent made of the country. Could not even finish his term.

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How did the PNP come to this?