Columns

Fenton
Ferguson

Sunday, July 09, 2017

(This is a lightly edited version of a tribute given to former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller by former Cabinet minister and Member of Parliament for St Thomas Eastern, Dr Fenton Ferguson, upon Simpson Miller's retirement from elective politics and the Jamaican Parliament on Tuesday, June 27. She officially stepped down as MP on June 29.)

Wise men tell us that roses are one of God's special gifts to mankind. They also tell us that they bloom brightest in June, while they glow.

On this auspicious June day, we are gathered to celebrate the wonderful contribution of a special leader, a rose from Wood Hall, St Catherine.

For over 40 years, from her first entry into public life as a councillor in 1974, Portia Lucretia Simpson Miller has epitomised humanity and humility in governance.

Portia as a leader, has exceeded all others in the political arena, with her unbounded benevolence, her charisma and charm, a disarming personality, and a generosity of spirit that has become legendary. Along with Michael Manley, she forged a mutual assistance society for the poor. It is no coincidence that she came on stage in a time of struggle and turmoil, as Michael Manley sought to uplift the status of the marginalised masses, the have-nots in our land.

On her journey of kindness, she exuded the nobility of love, which was grounded in her grandfather's advice to her as a young child:

“The only time you look down on anyone, is if you are going to lift them up.”

In this she drew on her armoury of hugs and kisses, which told of a caring spirit that most, if not all of us did not grasp or fully appreciate.

They were, in fact, gestures of hope, that told a sister in need that you are not alone, I will do what I can; that told a grieving mother that no matter how dark the night, morning comes; that consoled a brother, that despite your circumstances, seek God and he will help you fight your battles.

And yes, the little children, oh how she loved them and they returned her love. I saw them as they looked up with tomorrows dreams — through innocent, animated eyes — on this woman who shattered the glass ceiling to become our first and only female Prime Minister, who, in those moments, showed them by the example of her life and achievements that there are no heights that they cannot reach, no boundaries they cannot cross, no fears they cannot overcome, no difficulties they cannot surmount. And all this while loving your fellowman.

But let me hasten to add that Portia Simpson Miller's long, hard journey of caring was backed by substance. Some of the most significant socio-economic advances of our time occurred with Portia at the helm. Let me just name a few:

Under her watch as Minister of Labour, Welfare and Sports, she presided over uninterrupted harmony and tranquility on the labour front, so vital to productivity and growth. In this, she set a template of consultation and negotiation that broke with a past of instability and wastefulness, which has stood to the benefit of all other labour ministers thereafter.

Most profound, at labour also, she revolutionised the investment management of the National Insurance Fund, to realise a quantum leap in the assets of the fund from one billion dollars to over 20 billion — a feat that has continued to redound to the well-being of our pensioners, and the economic stability of our nation.

Perhaps her greatest achievement, though largely unsung, is her masterful coordination of socio-economic gains in both her tenures as Prime Minister. Firstly, in fiscal year 2006-2007, she not only oversaw the passing of consecutive IMF tests, but broke the unending pattern of negative to negligible growth by guiding the economy to 2.9 per cent GDP growth, single digit unemployment, 5.8 per cent inflation — the lowest rate recorded in our modern economic history at that time; increased the NIR to US$2.46 billion, and improved our debt to GDP ratio while reducing poverty.

And if to prove, this was no fluke, no 'buck up', she did it again in her second substantial coming, between fiscal years 2011-2016, in confronting the insurmountable IMF conditionalities to record the passing of 10-straight IMF tests, NIR of US$2.44 billion, inflation of 3.99 per cent, 2015 GDP growth of 1.5 per cent, anmeeting the difficult primary surplus targets while reducing unemployment and poverty.

In her presence, we all became larger and much taller. As the great Russian writer, Tolstoy, once remarked:

“The name Abraham Lincoln will live as long as America lives.”

So we too can truly say that the name Portia Simpson Miller will be remembered with awe and much gratitude, as long as Jamaica shall live.

Her public journey of inspiration and unmitigated love now comes to a close. I dare say, who, many years from now, historians will write kindly of her stewardship. She goes now to the 'rendezvous of victory'.

We as leaders have a serious act to follow, but having benefitted from her example and wise counsel, let us be worthy of her enlightening struggle, to lift up the poor, to better the opportunities for the working class, and to be a beacon of hope for the hopeless, the weak, and the downtrodden.

For my part, I pledge that I will continue on that path, as long as God will allow!

Walk good my leader, my mentor, and my friend!