It has been a little over two years since the Jamaican people handed Bruce Golding and the Jamaica Labour Party the authority and power to govern, with expectations that they would deliver on promises made during the 2007 election campaign.

Consequently, as tough as the socio-economic challenges are, as unpalatable as the latest economic report is, as painful as the downgradings of the government’s foreign bonds are, and as obstinate as the crime problems have been and remain, he and his administration now own these maladies, unpleasant though they are.

And as harsh as it seems, this administration cannot wiggle its way out of its responsibility and commitment to the Jamaican people to bring hope and prosperity to them. So, whatever the cross, and while context is needed, the government would be wise not to pass the “cup” to the previous administration, because the burden and expectations of leadership now rest squarely on its shoulders. As a result, there is an insatiable thirst for it to get down to the real job of fixing the problems, and for it to quit the foolish “huff-puff” over the misdeeds of the last PNP government. This does not mean that past wrongs should go unpunished, but we cannot immerse ourselves in petty politics to the extent of allowing it to become painful impediments to a brighter future.

For in the end, finger-pointing is not going to lessen the hardships the majority of Jamaicans now face; neither will it reduce the fear people feel as a consequence of the burgeoning domestic crime wave. Candidly, finger-pointing will not make any old lady in Jamaica even a tad safer, in the same way that skirting around the real economic woes will not create additional jobs. So, why pursue this strategy of deflection? Could it then be that the administration is admitting that it is as bankrupt of ideas as it once accused its predecessor of?

No one can deny that these are tough economic times, but these challenges also offer opportunities for long-term socio-economic restructuring and development, which is exactly what Jamaica needs at this time. And luckily, there is genuine sympathy for the government and a willingness to give it a chance to succeed. There is also the feeling among the people that we are all in this struggle together, because countries do not go out of business, and cannot relocate as some of us have had to do. This awareness is equivalent to a gold mine, so the time is right for the government to make bold and prudent steps forward.

It should not dither, on the grounds of scoring political points; it should instead move while the iron is hot. The people are ready to assist wherever feasible, and are willing to make sacrifices whenever practicable. Despite this, however, the government cannot take the people’s willingness for granted. For undoubtedly, patience is a virtue, but it is also fleetingly finite and the misery index can grow so far, and no further, before the stream rises and reason yield to frustration. One thing for sure, the constant whining and scapegoating is becoming quite irritating and in an environment where “the grass always grows while the horse starves”, the prospects for civil unrest are realisable.

To this end, the government cannot forget that it is walking on quicksand, and as such, it must walk slowly and furthermore, “things are falling apart and the centre can no longer hold”. Recent screw-ups at the Blood Bank and at hospitals all around the country should impel it to move urgently to enact health-care reforms beyond the confines of the user-fees policy. Almost everywhere one looks, there are signs that things are not going right. There are so many things to fix, that for the prime minister to be as preoccupied with silliness, as he has been, is mind-boggling. And although circumstances can cause one to panic and leadership can be lonely and unappreciated at times, our prime minister should recognise also that level-headedness and firmness of thoughts and actions, especially during times of crisis, are fundamental to successful leadership.

So when the prime minister challenged the Opposition to a public debate, for the sole purpose of getting it to articulate a post-tenure account of its stewardship, I find the gesture to be a feeble attempt at diversion. And coming as it did, on the eve of his party’s annual conference; I also find the challenge small-minded and cannot see how this debate would bring any benefits to the country or how it would help Mr Golding improve his leadership skills. But as the Jamaican saying goes, “When trouble ketch yuh pickney, shut fit yuh”. The only drawback to these latest antics is that sometimes the trouble is so huge that not even a “Triple X” can suffice, let alone “a little pickney shut”. Nevertheless, one hopes the prime minister realises this rather sooner than later.

Ironically, the debate to which Mr Golding has summoned the Opposition has already taken place, and he won that debate hands down. He convinced the people and they rejected the policies and leadership of the PNP, by placing their hopes and expectations in the hands of the JLP. Therefore, the only requirement is for him to prove his worth, now that he has had two full years of apprenticeship under his belt. He should just forget the absurdity of another debate, since Jamaica is not short on debates. We debate day-in and day-out, and as confusing as it sounds, we even debate the debates.

Perhaps talk is what the chief servant does best, because just when we thought we had enough talk and debates, the prime minister went ahead and created his own call-in show, Jamaica House Live, leading some to think that he likes the sound of his own voice. Frankly, the programme is turning out to be a grand waste of time and resources. It is definitely not an efficient use of the prime minister’s time. This is true when some people call just to gripe about everything: from the hen that lays one little egg on Mondays, to Maas Joe’s donkey that brays four times on Tuesdays.

That aside, this is the moment for Mr Golding to engage the citizens in a meaningful and forthright way and to share his vision for the country. This is the moment in time for him to get civil society on board to help garner public support and understanding enough to pull the requisite followership along with him. And if nothing else, this is the moment for him to pull his colleagues together, make peace with the Opposition, and stop “unfriending” them, so we can get the crime bills, which cover DNA testing, fingerprinting and video testimony for criminal trials, through Parliament and on the governor general’s desk. If nothing else, this is the time for him to bite his tongue, do the mea culpa for the intemperate “termite brain” remarks, so Parliament can get something done to advance the interest of Jamaica.

Burnscg@aol.com