'Flip-flopper in chief' - PNP chides Bruce Golding

Goes on offensive over State of Emergency vote abstention

BY ERICA VIRTUE Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, July 26, 2010

THE Opposition People's National Party (PNP), five days after its members of Parliament abstained in a vote to extend the limited State of Public Emergency, and in the face of mounting criticisms, yesterday accused the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) of playing politics, and labelled Prime Minister Bruce Golding a "flip-flopper-in-chief."

In her address to conclude the party's two-day National Executive Council meeting at the University of the West Indies, Mona, PNP President Portia Simpson Miller charged that the Government had no intention of extending the State of Emergency.

"Everybody is coming at us, and they are not even recognising that we tried to find a compromise. They not even recognising that the Government came to Parliament with no intention of having an extension," Simpson told the comrades.

"...But, of course, we have become accustomed to the flip-flopper-in-chief. Say one thing yesterday, and another thing today," she charged.

In her attack on Golding, Simpson Miller cited an October 9, 2003 letter to the editor, which she claimed was written by Bruce Golding on his return to the JLP, which was then in Opposition.

In the letter written to the Gleaner, which has been making the rounds on social networking site Facebook, she said Golding suggested that the State of Emergency at the time, should, and must be resisted, as police officials would seek to use the conditions to violate the rights of ordinary Jamaicans.

The letter also chastised supporters of the State of Emergency, which was called after the passage of Hurricane Isabel.

At the time the letter was written, Golding was not yet opposition leader, but Simpson Miller believes the prime minister speaks from different sides of his mouth for expediency.

"When we moved the motion of no-confidence they had everybody in Parliament. One even had to be called back to rejoin the team. When the motion in the Senate (the motion against the Minister Lightbourne), all were there. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all the time," Simpson Miller said.

During the post-NEC press conference, party chairman Robert Pickersgill said the JLP was clearly unaware that it required more than a simple majority for the extension.

"Personally, I don't know that this is a party position, but based on the reaction when Peter (Bunting, PNP general secretary and spokesman on national security) mentioned the 31 votes, I saw the reaction of the JLP and the person went up to the clerk, and when the clerk said yes, meaning Peter was right, they were very surprised," Pickersgill said.

According to the chairman, the action was one of incompetence, as no prime minister should ever go to Parliament without the majority he needs.

"Which prime minister would go to Parliament with a matter that they regard so important and didn't take the count? He obviously thought it was a simple majority. So he would have outvoted us," Pickersgill said.

He said the offer of 15 days was done in a spirit of compromise despite not being given any information it had requested.

Meanwhile, Simpson Miller told comrades that the PNP was being set up to be blamed for any upsurge in violence since the discontinuance of the State of Emergency. She claimed that a "sinister plot" to cause mayhem in communities was being hatched, and she warned them to be vigilant.

"I have already heard it said that the people murdered in Linstead was part of that plot," she said.

Thursday night, four persons were shot and killed by gunmen who invaded their Pleasant Hill home in Bog Walk, St Catherine.

While not giving details of the so-called plot, she said the PNP would not be daunted by those who believe the safety of some should come at the expense of others.

"The fight against crime is of paramount importance to the lives of the people of Jamaica. It is a principle for which the party would not retreat," she said.

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COMMENTS (30)

Blue Bird
7/26/2010

Golding behavior after the request for the extradition of Dudus,was disgraceful,and potentially criminal. What Porcia does not realize is wether Golding flip flop or hopped for that matter,he ended up in the right place, the SOE. The vast majority of law abiding,hard working,decent people wanted the SOE to continue. THE PNP sabotaged the SOE ,seen it as Goldings ticket to reelection. IN other words they want to see crime and murders increase,so that they will be elected instead. Sick indeed.

Stephen Fox
7/26/2010

@Jay Stone. Only thing we can do is create, support, and fund a third party. All other courses of action lead to more of the same. Even the electoral commission board is controlled by these political parties. They will continue to slice and dice Jamaica and its citizens forever until civil society takes action. 40+ years of political tribalism is too long.

JA Cynic
7/26/2010

"Fip- Flopper- in- Chief" is a term not unique to Bruce Golding. It is very interesting that the Editorial, of the same date, published its views on the efficacy of a state of emergency.
The Editorial was headlined :"Not the Answer".
How come??
JA Cynic

Winston G
7/26/2010

The PNP blundered - big time - on the SOE. The party loves to be popular. It thought it would win the love of the human rights groups and other Jamaicans against the SOE. Now that it has discovered that it is losing political mileage, it is trying say, "well, we opposed the SOE, but the JLP no betta - dem neva did want it either." Now to JLP is to be blamed for murders in Bog Walk?? How low will the PNP go to score political points???

Beresford Davidson
7/26/2010

Apart from Portia's lips; them other fellows? Yuk! Uoooooglie!

Anthony Johnson
7/26/2010

Here we go again.When will these politicians understand that the SOE is not about them and compromises.I'ts about the security forces who made the request.Call Mr Golding flip flop but where is Portia's brains.Did the MP's who vote against it consult with their constituents who they suppose to represent?Where is the PNP crime plan anyway?

Ramon Castro
7/26/2010

Barack Obama flip flop,
George Bush 1 & 2 flip flop,
Bill Clinton flip flop,
Tony Blair flip glop
Gordon Brown flip flop,
Michael Manley flip flop
PJ Patterson flip flop
What do they have in common. They are politicians. The only politician that is immune to flip flopping is the HONORABLE PORTIA SIMPLE MILLER.
Flip Flopper chief and Inept Chief -- God help Jamaica!!!

Kisiwa Mtumishi
7/26/2010

Mrs Simpson Miller i am interested in hearing your reason for not voting and what plans do you and the PNP have for Jamaica besides doing your utmost to discredit and embarrass the present government . I appreciate you keeping government in check by your scathing criticisms of them ,all the time. But i want beyond that to be able to make comparisons of what they are offering as solutions and what you are proposing . Or are you just opposing because you are the opposition ?

Yaadman in DC
7/26/2010

The time this woman spent calling people names in this backward cuss cuss manner, she should have spent outling the crime plan they have that they would have expected of the JLP. My people is this what we really want at this stage in lives? Honestly! This woman cannot help Jamaica!. And as a side note, I am definitely no JPL supporter but I have to say something when I see, read and hear utter nonsense.

William Johnson
7/26/2010

It doesn't matter if Bruce or any other politician flip flops. Jamaicans don't care about the issues, they support party. Bruce couldn't win a seat as NDM but became Prime Minister as a JLP. How much votes would Portia get if she left the PNP?

Norman Haley
7/26/2010

Mr Golding is the father of all Flip Flopper. I was doing some research on Mr. Golding Flip and Floping and there is so much that I have to give up. I have never seen any other leader in Jamaica who change position so often.Anybody remember the Petro Caribe Protest in April 2005?

True Democracy
7/26/2010

Just like anybody else, Portia has a right to speak her mind and offer a fitting analysis of the current state of affairs. Why not? She is in a Leadership position in this country. There are a plethora of examples to substantiate her claims re the JLP's Flip-flopping, let alone the PM.
The decision of the opposition to abstain from the vote for the EXTENSION of the SOE last week was an excellent one. Good move Portia.
This administration adopts a SOE/ 60 day - no bail/ no civil rights REGIME.

Droula Don
7/26/2010

Some ppl are talking about these are rantings and ravings of a party who wants power but i can say that this is politics. Many of you do not know what happens in govt so some of you need not to speak. U have to wonder though why if the govt wanted the extension of the SOE so badly,why didnt they have all members present as to secure it? They have done so b4 in the no-confidence motion and many other things that they wanted.........they must think we are idiots!!!

Jaye Stone
7/26/2010

Golding must be the most reviled leader this country ever had -- hated by even party diehards. But everytime the Opposition open their mouth, I think of 18 years of stagnation and neglect, mismanagement of public funds and the unfettered growth of corruption.
Is anybody else tired of these two parties of bandits or "baff-handed" politicians bickering all the time and messing up our country when they get into power? What cann be done?

Bad Nuh Rass
7/26/2010

@ george watson: Bruce's "gift with words" seem to be running out...him mouth coulda sweet like sugar, and him coulda talk til him teeth dem drop out, he can't say anything that will make me see him in a positive light after all that have happened......sigh

george watson
7/26/2010

Before desk-top computers there was a dept. in the newsroom affectionately called the "morgue," where we would get background to stories we wanted to write.
Are you telling me, that now in the computer age this newspaper and the other one did not know of Bruce's letter to at least refer to it before they began castigting the PNP as wanting to perpetuate crime, by not supporting a SOE? What has changed? Do we trust our police more?
Should we trust our media to be fair and impartial? NO.

otis grant
7/26/2010

people will say and do anything for political power as evidenced here. another politician made a statement to that effect some time in the past. can anyone guess which party that person was from? so once more the country plays a distant 5th to political ambitions.

Bad Nuh Rass
7/26/2010

Flip-flopping is right, and that is what we are tired of. But then again Bruce has no clue what he is doing so what else can we expect but flip-flopping? We need a consistent government that is accountable to the people. Too much lies and hypocrisy over shadows this government, only God can help Jamaica right now.

christopher Isaacs
7/26/2010

Statements coming from, Peter Bunting, Robert Pickersgill and Portia Simpson truly makes one wonder. Bunting would have us believe that the so-called shower posse which has not been mentioned in jamica for years was responsible for all the mayhem in Ja even though it is affiliated to the JLP.Portia is telling us that even Shahine Robinson was in Parliament when they moved the no confidence vote. Pickersgill would have believe that gov. never knew they did not just require a simple majority Gosh

Peter Lawrence
7/26/2010

Its the first time in Many moons that I've even bothered to read fully (rather than glance and go to the comic section)what P. Simpson-Miller has to say. Seems to me she was trying to be A QUEEN rather than pol. leader. Avoid saying/doing really controversial so as to be popular. The PNP must act like a credible party in a two-party democracy,and even risk losing the next election. I much prefer this Portia persona. Take a stand, face pol. battering, test ideas in polity. You may lose, may win

Kweli Simba
7/26/2010

Those are the rantings of a party bereft of any good ideas for the country. The opposition leader has essentially blamed the govt. for complicity in criminal activities. The PNP have set themselves up for whatever results coming from their activities in Parliament. They would do better if they would tell the people what are their plans for the country's future. A calculated change of mind is not bad when faced with real situations. Portia should place this in her files for usage later.

Indomitable Duncan
7/26/2010

Where are the mental doctors who are capable of diagnosing if Golding suffers from split personality? It is sad that there is nothing in place to really keep politicians in line and not allow them to change like the weather.
Jamaica urgently needs constitutional reform to keep politicians accountable. It is a digrace how the people of Jamaica are being treated by this administration.

John Smith
7/26/2010

I don't believe Golding can be trusted, not 'cause he's indeed 'flip-flopper in chief' but 'cause he's been exposed as a misleader & effective liar. Changing circumstances demand changing perspectives & approaches - unfortunately for politicians the electorate translates these as broken promises, flippity-floppitiness & untrustworthiness. However, I can't see what is much different from 2003. Higher crime, yes, but the SoE situation described by Golding in his letter is the same. Well deserved.

Kweli Simba
7/26/2010

Miss Miller and the gang should be ashamed of themselves to froffer such a claim in public. The beasts of crime and violence in Jamaica is the responsibility of both parties. While govt. miscalculated the votes, it is the responsibility of the members to vote their conscience rather than party line. If the PNP feels strongly about their vote, then they should deal with the fall out from it. The statement is reckless and inciteful when crime has peaked in the island. When will Portia faces life?

Grace Asphall
7/26/2010

Sometimes I really wonder if I am reading the captions in the foreign press or what...get a new order...be original...what else is new... all politicians flip-flop. I am tired of the same stalemate things...no results...waste of energy. Move on with good insights. As a child I remember being at one of Shearer's meetings and as he chides the press he said "Everything the minister seh, the minister seh, the minister seh." Shearer was right.

wesley Henry
7/26/2010

This is a very poor statement made by a former Prime Minister which makes every well meaning PNP looks bad. She should recant. In some democracies she would either be sued or charged for misconduct. For her to insinuate that the government is responsible for the shooting deaths in Bog Walk to turn public opinion against her party is absurd. Portia should step down and let someone who can take the pressures and criticisms take over. For a former Prime Minister that was raw & cheap.

Norman Haley
7/26/2010

Mr. Golding could not expect the Jamaican People to believe that they really wanted to extend the State Of Emergency. Why did he not accept the 15 days extension suggested by the Opposition, and allow his MPs to return to Jamaica and continue a further 15 or 30 days extension? I am sure Mr. Golding is not daft or incompetent, to expect the opposition to just rubber stamp his plan without proper briefing.
. Mr. Golding is rebranding himself as Crime Fighter In Chief (CIF) this is after pressure from civil sosiaty and Uncle Sam decided that we were not going to wait any longer on his flip flop position. Proof May, 16, 2010 All Government senators and Member of Parliament say Mr. Golding did no wrong in the MPP affair ,twenty four hours later May,17,2010 full 180 about turn apology and all that “We the people are not fool”.

Chuck Emanuel
7/26/2010

Why is this Political Party not advocating important issues such as constitutional reforms which must provide separation of powers between the Cabinet and Parliament, including the provision of real accountability for politicians who engages in perjury, fraud, obstruction of justice and criminality ?.
At present, the culture of lies, deceit, criminalty and anancyism is unprecedented and the level of trust in the integrity of political leaders in this country is at an all time low.

Devon T
7/26/2010

I find the Opposition Ring leader in cheif views somewhat disturbing. To be making public declaration that any upsurge in voilence would be a part of a plot by the government is possibly the most careless of her many cantankerous statements to date. Am i wrong to believe that it might have been a strategy used by the PNP when in power to demean the JLP... As a man/woman thinketh so is she/he... Win at any cost...? Stop playing politics with our country woman.

george watson
7/26/2010

If Mrs. Simpson Miller were to quote every flip flop that is attributable to the prime Minister then she would have to get someone to carry the file. The prime minister has reneged on almost every promise he ever made while in opposition. Almost everything he has ever accused the PNP of he has done it and more. The man is shifty, and will use innuendoes and his gift with words to try to swing any argument.
He will never ever again be able to inspire the majority of Jamaicans.

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'Flip-flopper in chief' - PNP chides Bruce Golding