Over the years of being an avid political observer, I have never really paid much attention to our prime minister. However, thanks to the excellent television coverage of the Manatt Enquiry, I was able for the first time to really view him up front and close – and I liked what I saw.

For the second time a leading political figure and attorney paid respect to him, which is very unusual. KD Knight told him, “Mr Golding, you are a very smart man.” We all recall at the height of the campaign for the 2007 election, Dr Omar Davies was complimentary.

After Mr Golding finished his testimony at the enquiry, I zeroed in on him and the above hit me like a stroke of lightning.

Bruce Golding walked away from the Jamaica Labour Party and founded his own party and realised that his party could not gain political power, so he returned to the JLP and got the leadership from Mr Edward Seaga who held a vice-like grip on the party. Mr Golding got Mr Seaga’s constituency that many believed would have been Eddie’s forever.

After several attempts to rid Tivoli Gardens of the stigma of the “gunman enclave” of Jamaica, Mr Golding delivered a “knock-out punch” to the alleged drug don, Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who is now awaiting trial in the USA for gun-running and drug-trafficking .

This, it is reported, has resulted in Jamaica enjoying record reduction in the murder figures month after month. So, what say you?

Ken Spencer

POBox 537

Kingston 8

ken3_1999@yahoo.com