Elections have consequences – consequences for the victors and the vanquished. But as I wrote in 2002 after the People’s National Party won its fourth consecutive term, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” The PNP knows that there is no room for skylarking. The people have spoken, and by their votes, they have invested their trust and belief that the PNP will bring greater probity, prosperity, transparency and competence to government. They have expressed the desire for solidarity of purpose between the governor and the governed, but even more, they are clamouring for beneficial partnerships that will redound to the greater good of the society.

For that reason, it behoves the government to do everything in its powers to halt the downward socio-cultural trajectory, particularly the decline of public-spiritedness and the ethos of public service in the political class, given the hellish memories of the Dudus-Manatt saga. The people have no appetite for governmental excesses, ineptitude or arrogance. The government must also do everything possible to reverse, in a most systematic and complete way, those causal domestic factors that continue to produce the stubborn economic malaise which has been besetting us for some time.

Understandably, their expectations are that the government will legislate responsibly and pursue sensible policies on their behalf. It is worthy to remind the government that power should not become a burden; it must become the conduit through which positive and lasting changes are effectuated. Furthermore, those who exert power must understand that it is not the attractiveness of the power that is important, but the ability to distinguish between such power and the authority which comes with it and knowing how to use the authority wisely.

So, let there be no misinterpretation of the large parliamentary majority the government now enjoys, because the consequence of misreading its purpose could be swift and humiliating. Elections have consequences, so the PNP government must transfer the same zeal, competence, optimism and strategic thinking it demonstrated during the election to the management of the country’s affairs. We must hold them to no lesser standard. As such, those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to share our opinions publicly must recognise and appreciate the awesomeness of the privilege by lifting the quality of the debate.

Therefore, calling a spade a spade should become the new standard. After all, it is one of the easiest things to do. Our role, as opinion shapers, ought not to give support to governmental sloppiness or apologise for past transgressions because of our political orientation. We have a responsibility to remain vigilant on behalf of the public. Declaratively, there will be no accommodation in this space for nonsense; especially because I do not have to, and have never had to sing for my supper. And so, criticisms of the prime minister and her government will not be made because I love her less, but because I love Jamaica more. As I see it, there are no sacred cows in our politics and no one is above criticism or scrutiny.

The government will be reminded at every turn that its primary duty and responsibility is to protect and to act in the best interest of the people and that it must work assiduously to earn reasonable returns on their investment. Make no bones about it, the mandate that the PNP received does not represent carte blanche power to impose unreasonable, unbankable or downright foolish policies upon the citizens, and the mandate certainly does not mean that the government is “Monarch of all it surveys” or possesses absolute knowledge about everything.

It is in this context that I recommend that the prime minister convene a series of goal-directed jobs and ideas summits to get varied perspectives on the way forward for the economy, innovation, jobs and the social sector. For this to be successful it should start with a distinct sketch of the desired outcome. Heaven knows we can forgo yet another “talk-shop”. The agenda should focus exclusively on economic development strategies, education, national security, health, jobs and training. The ideation process should include contributions from our former prime ministers, private and public sector leaders, academicians, trade unions, civil society, youth, the Opposition and community leaders. These “big-tent”, results-oriented summits, besides restoring social capital, should then be merged with the ongoing Partnership for Progress initiative to avoid duplication of efforts and cannibalisation of ideas.

It is heartening to see that the government has, so far, not embarked on the typical witch-hunting that usually happens after a change of government. This attitude should now include the preservation of sound policies. Simply put, policies that worked under the previous government must continue, even if continuity offends some in the PNP. For in the final analysis, and as PM Simpson Miller has been asserting, the government must always act in the country’s best interest and not in fulfilment of some unfeasible campaign promises. Hence, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”.

Elections have consequences for the vanquished as well. In this case, the Jamaica Labour Party must understand that the people have spoken and in exercise of their democratic right, they overwhelmingly rejected the JLP in the recent election. It is unwise for the Leader of the Opposition to stand barefacedly in the highest court of the land – our Parliament – and pretend as though it is his party that now forms the government. Mr Holness, the “huff-puff” bravado is counterintuitive to your “brand-positioning strategy”. It was disappointing to hear you talk about beginning the next election campaign right after the JLP received a bruising defeat. By so insisting, you are behaving like the man who is so obsessed with power that he refuses to accept that power truly resides with the people and even if he gets that power, it can be ephemeral.

Burnscg@aol.com