Prime Minister P J Patterson's resignation today will bring to a close an exciting chapter in Jamaica's history. For, not only has Mr Patterson been Jamaica's longest serving prime minister - for 14 years - but he has played a major role in the nation's fortunes, notably in reducing the political antagonism that was once a deadly feature of our politics.

In fact, his influence in that regard played out in Parliament on Tuesday when, during a special sitting of both chambers to bid him farewell, Opposition members spoke frankly of their admiration for his non-confrontational approach to politics. And, as the opposition leader, Mr Bruce Golding assured us, they did so not merely out of a sense of duty or a desire to be politically correct, but because they saw a need to pay genuine and sincere tribute to Mr Patterson.

Like Mr Golding, we too hold that Mr Patterson's commitment to this country and love for Jamaicans are unquestionable, despite the continuous barrage of criticisms thrown at him over the years. Mr Patterson, being the quintessential politician that he is, chose this career knowing fully well that criticism was par for the course and never seemed to be too overly concerned.

Through it all, he mostly held his cool, even when his political opponents, playing to the Jamaican psyche of deep hatred for unconventional lifestyles, did him an egregious wrong by insinuation.

While this newspaper has been critical of some of his policies and actions, or inaction in some cases - and there has been enough of that - we will not join Mr Patterson's blinkered detractors in blaming him for all that's wrong in this country. For, truth be told, Mr Patterson's administrations have done a lot of good for Jamaica. The liberalisation of the communications sector, expansion of media, provision of housing, water and land come easily to mind. And, as he so often reminds us, his administrations have laid a foundation for business expansion and investment through their infrastructure improvement programme.

Naturally, we believe, they could have done more, particularly in the areas of security, justice, job creation and ensuring that any breach of the fundamental rights and freedoms of Jamaicans is not tolerated by the state. After all, 14 years is a long time. But we cannot discount the achievements.

Only a dispassionate review of his legacy will determine whether history will absolve P J Patterson or not.

Now, as he goes into retirement, Mr Patterson, we are sure, will feel some measure of accomplishment, though he cannot be totally comfortable, given all that's left to be done.

He has told us that he intends to write his memoirs and his account of the history of Jamaica and the Caribbean. Given the ringside seat that he has occupied for so long, as history unfolded in Jamaica and the region, we are sure that there is much that he can add to the body of knowledge on which generations to come must rely for their own advancement.
We wish him all the best.

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