Substance over hot air

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

NO one will accuse Prime Minister Andrew Holness of being a charismatic speaker. His speeches lack catch phrases and 'sweet talk, and so he runs the risk of losing audiences that are not inclined to listen carefully.

It's a deficiency that the prime minister and his handlers need to work on if he intends to make more impact as a speaker. Messages, especially the tough ones, have to be communicated effectively. Not to mention the fact that Jamaicans have been spoiled in that effect by the late Prime Minister Michael Manley.

That said, however, anyone who has taken the time to engage in close examination of Mr Holness's two major speeches to date cannot deny the fact that he has been discussing important issues with the country -- issues which journalists, political analysts, civil society and private sector groups have, for years, been urging our politicians to place before the country, especially from the vantage point of political platforms where they have captive audiences.

His inauguration address, while lengthy, offered a range of critical issues with which the country must contend going forward.

Among them were legislation to address campaign financing and corruption, tax reform, interest rates, the dismantling of garrison politics, student literacy, the responsibility of parliamentarians to set examples of good behaviour, the elevation of political discourse from boorishness, the need for a serious assault on poverty, and curtailing the national debt.

On Sunday, in his address to the Jamaica Labour Party's 68th annual conference, Mr Holness again raised some of those serious issues, reiterating that we cannot continue to borrow money to service the debt, the urgent need for more people to be brought into the tax net and for those who can pay more to do so, the value of "the Jamaican pudding" being shared in equal measure, and the destructive effects of extortion and other illegal activities on the economy and people's lives.

We're not surprised that he has been criticised by some analysts for delivering what they consider an inappropriate address to a political party conference. However, it is obvious that the prime minister is more focused on substance than on hype.

As we pointed out in this space yesterday, Mr Holness's address was one of the most sober ever delivered at the annual conference of a political party in Jamaica. That, we believe, should be the norm. For political conventions should serve as platforms for advancing the parties' positions and ideologies, rather than fora for berating opponents and displays of buffoonery.

In fact, these party conferences should be used to encourage a culture of debate and tolerance for opposing views, the long-term goal being the reduction of quick resort to conflict.

We are not suggesting that the conferences should be divested of their carnival-type atmosphere. That, after all, is part of the attraction of these events and it encourages camaraderie. However, they should be regarded as vehicles through which the parties can speak to and influence Jamaicans who are not among their diehard supporters.

And, in today's world of the instant spread of information across the globe, the parties should be utilising their conferences to impress the international community which they must deal with, whether in government or opposition.

Based on his display on Sunday, Mr Holness, we believe, is aware of that and is obviously trying to steer Jamaica in a new direction.

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COMMENTS (22)

howie J
11/23/2011

The main aim of political speeches is to target emotions and inspire hope. The rhetorical statement which is the most effective in doing this is based on pathos. Political speeches are based more on pathos, the pathetic, rather than logos, logic. This is why people call it “poli-tricks” because good politicians target emotions.
President Obama chooses locations and makes “pathetic” speeches based on the historical significance of those locations and ties it with what people are feeling at that time.
King James 1 of England said, he who does not know how to deceive; knows not how to rule (Tacitus).

Rush Pope
11/23/2011

If one wants people to buy, the marketing people will tell you that packaging is essential. The development and delivery of his speech was badly packaged. Many did not buy in to the speech. Talk all you want. If the PM cant whip up his base he will lose an election. If people stop listening because the packaging is bad, he will lose the election. Politics include marketing. If it is that people listened and felt there was substance, there would be no need for this editorial to convince us.

0o k
11/22/2011

@Adam Godson
Comrade Phillips went even further, he said Jamaica was headed in direction of Somalia.
Returning to Comrade Patterson. He was the man who coined a most memorable phrase "Fly di gate an let in the Pirate".
18+ years later the full handiwork of the real Pirates of the Caribbean is there for all Jamaicans to behold.

Adam Godson
11/22/2011

@0o k, not to mention ,peter philips said,according to wikileaks,that portia simpson-miller was likely make Jamaica like Haiti.
@fall mouth, pj patterson holding his head high? Who said i shall return? Under what circumstances were the words uttered? Was anythiing respectable about those circumstances?
And is the law a shackle?

Yard Vibz
11/22/2011

Public speaking is a prerequisite for those who vie for the PM’s office... If a shepherd has to sweat profusely in mild temperature to deliver a message to his loyal sheep, then same is ill-prepared for the job... How will he fare @ the UN? Holness, who could improve with time, has to learn how to tailor messages to fit target audiences... He strikes me as a man who puts too much emphasis on the textbook, & subsequently ignores real life scenarios... Listening to him is like watching paint dry!

Noel Richards
11/22/2011

There is no substance in words.

0o k
11/22/2011

@fall mouth
Sister I am ready to debate the facts.
Fact is I agree with you that Comrade Patterson sure can strut....all over the world.
Fact is you and I agree that he is the worst PM after Comrade Manley. The raw numbers prove that.
Fact is Jamaicans are of all, class and creed, so the colour Comrade Patterson was born with is neither here nor there.
BTW Comrade Phillips is quoted as saying the Comrade Governments spent 18 years running Jamaica into the ground. Most of it under Mr. PJ.

Adam Godson
11/22/2011

@fall mouth what does skin color have to do with this?As to the worsty prime minister, we could ask k d knight,john junor, maxine henry-wilson, ande peter philips their view on portia simpson-miller.
When and where can i debate 'the facts' with you?

Rick Edwards
11/22/2011

Andrew said alot of the right things BUT so did Bruce. I am holding the applause until I see some real plans, because right now his agenda is just as realistic as JEEP. Both are merely hot air and after making the mistake with BG I am not willing to feel that talk of transformation equates to transformation. Action not a bag a mout'

Barry Douglas
11/22/2011

On Andrew next speech he better wip up the crowd ,if not he is going to lose supporters the people need a politician not a ceo.not knocking him but the truth is the truth .He needs to wake up and get the message across so that the common man can understand him.

Luv Quest
11/22/2011

“No one can deny the fact that he has been discussing important issues with the country issues which journalists, political analysts, civil society and private sector groups have, for years, been urging our politicians to place before the country, especially from the vantage point of political platforms where they have captive audiences.” Substance over hot air has to be a statement telling us that is what we are getting. Rightfully so; the rhetoric/catch phrase is political gimmickry.

Luv Quest
11/22/2011

In my opinion; most leaders are not defined by speech but by policies and leadership qualities. One can always hire a speechwriter and call it a day. The PM is young and he is still developing as a leader; there are thing that he will have to improve on like all of us who gets a new position there is always strength and weaknesses. A person excels in what they believe in; I believe that Mr. Holness has Jamaica's interest at heart and time will tell as he develops as a leader.

Barry Douglas
11/22/2011

Mr Editer you did a good job in explaining the problem with mr Holness' speech. I hope he sees it as the truth and some thing not negatively against him. I am a Andrew fan , therefore i need the best for him, because of this weakness he was not my first choice ,he was my second choice Dr Tufton was my first choice... This was a politcal conference not a business conference therefore what ever message he needs to brought forward he needs to deliver that message with style in a political manor

fall mouth
11/22/2011

@Oo k, I agree with you that P.J. Patterson was the worst Prime Minister in Ja. history. But he certainly couldn't help the colour he was born with. Despite the fact that he was the "worst," he did manage to server 18-1/2 years though and can walk anywhere in the world with his head held high, more than be said of others, some of whom could not even serve out one term.
You people keep "mouthing" about who was the worst P.M. but are not willing to debate the facts. I am ready for you all

Chuck Emanuel
11/22/2011

Yes Mr Editor, "important issues" indeed !. So, How is it that the PM has not launched an immediate investigation into how was it that the RMF ACT was unilaterally breached withour Parliamentary approval ?. Where are the monies that were diverted to the NWA in breach of the Appropriations ACT ?. In addition, where are the monies from the SCT on Gasoline that were supposed to be paid into the RMF (road maintenance Fund) ?.
Lastly, where are the RECORDS of deposits, withdrawals, disbursements, and expenditures that the RMF ACT required ?

fall mouth
11/22/2011

So how come the PM did not tell us on Sunday how he intends to take the country out of its economic bind, but he was busy calling on the Opposition to tell their plans? His is the party in power, and are having problems dealing with the IMF who should be telling us, instead he is busy deflecting attention from himself to the Opposition and nobody in the media has even bothered to take him up on this. They are too busy asking the PNP for theirs
Thank you Michael Dingwall.
Will you publish?

Adam Godson
11/22/2011

Brilliant cartoon this morning.

Stephen Fox
11/22/2011

Any well thinking Jamaican who really listened to Mr Holness on Sunday would find a well balanced, appropriate, and substantive vision. Editor, Its amazing that you have not parsed his message and simplified it for the public. While you have dribbled out some details, a point by point report will have much value.

John Smith
11/22/2011

What I've seen other media houses do & I completely respect & endorse is - along with publishing various opinions & interpretations of Mr Holness inaugural speech, they also posted it online for everybody to analyse & form their own opinions. That said, there is a fundamental disagreement between the Editor & I on the definition of substance. Substance is not just mentioning an issue & saying that's good, that's bad & I hope to fix it. HOW will it be fixed? Substance is in the how - the plan.

David Armstrong
11/22/2011

Here is my theory on why most Ja'cn politicians cannot communicate effectively or get out their message in an eloquent style. The majority of the people they talk to at political campaigns are uneducated and cannot be be reasoned with or spoken to in an articulate manner. To compensate for this the politician dumb down their speech and some are not good at doing this. They are like adults talking baby talk or gibberish to a toddler.

0o k
11/22/2011

LOL First Day the Editorial was whining like the rest of the Jamaican Media (seems like the only thing the Media wanted to hear was the Date), now the Editorial has come forward to its senses.
Who write these Editorials.
Spoiled by Saint Michael indeed. With all his pretty speeches (other than Comrade Patterson), he has been the worst Prime Minister in the entire Post-Independence history of Jamaica.

Jay Brown
11/22/2011

Mr Editor Jamaican like announcements, you simply cannot go to conference and not have a big announcement or a catch phrase to leave the people with.
Who cares about substance, we want to know how he is going to make up by chicken back instead of chicken gizzard. We want to know how much fish he is going to give us, I don't want to learn to be no fisherman.
Andrew gave us nothing, see Portia say no more taxes on electricity and some food is that we want to hear.
Sounds familiar

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Substance over hot air