Observer online readers have reacted sharply to the Friday, May 27, 2011 editorial — “Mrs Simpson Miller’s uneven blend” — calling into question the paucity of young, fresh faces in the People’s National Party shadow cabinet. Here are their views:

Stephen Fox: Editor, you can’t really expect much from parliamentarians who represent a garrison constituency. These folk have very little to recommend them. Eighteen years in the majority has not yielded much results. Maybe they need to lose another election before the fresh faces will emerge. Meanwhile the JLP horror continues with insipid allegations against James Robertson.

Chuck Emanuel: Not just yet Mr Editor! Being ‘young’ does not, in and of itself, ensure integrity, credibility, or trust. Public service is a public trust. Integrity and honesty creates a culture that fosters high standards of ethics. The highest obligation of people in governance (young or old) is to fulfill this basic trust with professional and personal INTEGRITY. That must be the message for those who lead, or aspire to lead (young or old).

Dr Joan Porteous: Spokespersons with fresh ideas will signal to the country that the PNP, if it is returned to office in the next general election, will introduce new thinking in its policies and programmes.

It is all about spokespersons with new ideas. All said, authentic transformational leadership matters in the area of public and political reform.

Trevor Harris: Mr Editor, you ‘hit the nail on the head’ when you commented that it was really a “shadow”.The naming of these people is clearly no indication that they will hold these positions if and when the PNP forms the next Govt. I fail to understand their uproar over the naming of these people. I would be willing to make a wager that some of these positions will be filled by different people.Take for instance the fellow Waite, he said he asked to be excluded at this time.You shouldn’t read too much here. Wait. I don’t see you criticising Golding for having Ken Baugh, Mike Henry, Pearnel Charles, et al, who are all older than Methuselah, and the ‘youngsters’ in his Cabinet are causing a lot of pain, namely James Robertson, Everald Warmington etc… And, by the way, what has happened to young and bright former energy minister? …don’t be critical just for the sake of being critical.

Anthony C: Mr Editor, you are out to divide the party with your remarks. Mr Fitz Jackson worked alongside Omar in the past administration in finance. Don’t you think he will go back there when the PNP wins? The only change I see for Mr Roger Clarke, is Senator Norman Grant, but I know you will tell me he is old. Everybody keeps talking about Mr Damian Crawford, but yet no one can tell me what portfolio he can handle. Furthermore, Damian is neither an MP or a Senator for him to be named as a spokesperson. I still think we will see changes to this shadow team.

Norris Richards: The US is satisfied they got their point men Omar and Peter in Mama P’s shadow cabinet. They are good to Uncle Sam or they good for Jamaica. All the failed career politicians in her shadow cabinet, in their energetic days, they could not manage their portfolios, in fact, they made a mess of the country. Now, they are sitting on the departure deck, at this stage can they manage the country? The answer is, not a chance, based on their record.

Beresford Davidson: Portia knows what she is doing; she ‘deh play fool, fi ketch wise’.

Paul Gentles: Dear editor — your editorials of late — turning a blind eye to the malaise affecting/infecting the country, brings to mind ‘Nero fiddles whilst Rome burns’. Seems like you don’t like the gorilla in the room??

John Smith: I’m not convinced by your conjecture that these people were ‘rejected’ four years ago, dear Editor. Why? Because most of them are members of Parliament. Neither am I convinced that any young politician is good for the country at the moment in leadership roles. The evidence is rather blatant. In the end you can only play the hand you’re dealt.

D T: I don’t care about this shadow cabinet, I am sure if the PNP wins the next election Omar will be in the finance ministry.

Tom Stroke: Mr Editor, there is an external force called the USA that you did not factor in your analysis. The message today is that we are to vote for the PNP since their visas secure. For it is this old, failed and tired bunch that the USA has all the confidence in to complete whatever unfinished sale that the JLP is not willing to transact. As such, does Sista P have a choice but to present them to us and try to sugar-coat them as experienced? If you have not recognised it yet, we have a serious problem.

Nadine Johnson: Oh Bloggers, the young people in the PNP ask to be given time so they can work in their constituencies. What is the big ‘holla’ around. I listen to the average of persons’ age in both parties and it is like 60.1 JLP and 54.2 PNP, so whose party have the oldest set of persons? We know it was the PNP first champion to give young people lead roles — why the fuss? Let we get things going, call the election and we will see, Hum… the USA is still watching.

Mango Brains: Apart from Fitz Jackson, the editorial has not made any concrete suggestions. Do they really expect Mrs Simpson Miller to name Crawford, who has experience at nothing, and does not have a constituency? In any case, what is with the fetishisation of youth? And, is the age difference in the PNP much different than that of the JLP? Only Andrew Holness is under 40.

Johnny Gordon: Okay, so the JLP does have its share of elected senior citizens. But if the PNP is serious about replacing them then the question has to be asked… with what?? Unless there is the presumption that the JLP has already lost the election. Politics is strange indeed. On the flip side, youthful exuberance without the proper leadership potential can cause problems.

Proud Yaadman: As much as I applauded Mrs Simpson-Miller ascendancy to the highest office in the government, I have been very disappointed in her leadership. It appears her capacity to hold a grudge is unlimited, and she routinely errs on the side of loyalty rather than practicality. We Jamaicans are sick and tired of the same dinosaurs running the country for the past 40 years. No wonder there’s a glaring lack of innovation and vision in our politics.

Trevor Dawes: I looked at the make up of this so-called PNP shadow cabinet, and like everyone else was surprised at the lack of any young folks with the exception of Ms Hanna. Then again, perhaps I should not have been. Portia is from the old school where loyalty is valued more than intelligence and initiative, so one gets the version of the PNP you have today.

David Armstrong: This issue of the age make-up of any political organisation should not be an issue and certainly doesn’t deserve to be an editorial. What should be an issue is what this new shadow cabinet will offer. The Opposition party is attempting to rebrand themselves with this new shadow cabinet, but in the process have not provided any plans as to how they would solve the serious problems affecting the country. What tactical purpose this shadow cabinet will serve and what strategy they will use to fix JA?