Dear Editor,

If ever a straw broke a camel’s back, that straw fell this afternoon (last week). The Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica released what may go down in Commonwealth history as the most unfortunate statement on behalf of a head of Government. Mrs Simpson Miller is purported to be “concerned” for the safety of the prime minister.

Fair enough. The worrying aspect of this development is that there is no security threat — in the standard sense. Instead, the OPM released this dubious statement after members of the media sought a response from an ever-evasive Simpson Miller. In her now characteristic attempt to dodge the media, she was apparently struck by a microphone.

It is regrettable that the PM was struck, but the real issue, is why was she running? Why hasn’t she consented to sit for an interview. When one considers the PM’s abject refusal to face the press, it leads to one devastating conclusion. If a leader cannot face the country unscripted, it brings the competence of the leader into serious question.

It is shameful and unacceptable.

Since taking office, the PM has repeatedly told the nation that “time come”; time come for removing The Queen as Head of State, time come to take appeals to the Caribbean Court of Justice, time come to put country above party, etc. I think the prime minister must now reflect on her own inability to lead the Government, indeed the country; time come, to step aside. Time come Portia, time come.

One of the most frequently levelled criticisms against the former government was its apparent arrogance. There was a time that the PM, as Opposition leader, convinced me that the Bruce Golding-led government was indeed too arrogant. I was inclined to agree that the tone and tenor of ministers like Daryl Vaz was offensive. Imagine my surprise now to find the Government led by Mrs. Simpson Miller even more arrogant. Imagine my shock and awe at the fact that the PM herself currently drips with contempt.

Our first point of contact with the arrogance of this Government was the minister with responsibility for information, Sandrea Falconer. Ms Falconer frequently treats the media as a collective nuisance and, in one instance, purported to have a right not to answer questions. Her tone now frequently implies that the country should get over whatever little foul-up her Cabinet colleagues have got themselves into. Even more unbelievable is her penchant to say “No comment”, or some other weak variation of it. Her tone is no different from that of a Daryl Vaz.

The problem is that Mrs Simpson Miller and the PNP represented a change. The mantra of “people power” promised a change in style, tone and leadership. It turns out we’ve jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. The most glaring example of this is the Richard Azan debacle. The state minister seemingly displayed poor judgement. The Cabinet rallied in support of their fellow Comrade. This is nonsense. The alleged act, if committed, is ample grounds for suspension, if not dismissal. Mr Azan should have been made to stand aside until it could be proven that he is indeed innocent. For someone always quick to call on former Prime Minister Golding to act, Mrs Simpson Miller seems to suffer from the disease of inaction.

Mrs. Simpson Miller has repeated every single fault she found with the Golding Government. She has not kept her promises, she has allowed the contempt of her ministers to go unchecked, she has appointed the second largest executive in the history of independent Jamaica, she has trampled on the concept of people power by refusing to face and have dialogue with the people of Jamaica in a meaningful way, she has said she’s working, but in reality all we see is ribbon cutting, baby kissing and ground breaking, and finally, she has remained deafeningly silent on every major issue facing Jamaica, choosing to hide behind her ministers. It is a crying shame.

I never wanted to be so decidedly anti-PNP, I never intended to be so strongly opposed to the leadership of Mrs Portia Simpson Miller. In fact, a part of me hoped she would have used the sizeable majority she commands in Parliament to enact some meaningful change in Jamaican politics, that was not to be. I am left angry, annoyed and resentful at our politics and political system. It is time for the PM to accept what is already evident to the whole nation, she cannot fulfil the role she has been asked to play. Is time to accept dat, Mama, time to seriously put country above party and above self. Time come Portia, time come.

Ricardo Brooks

ricardo.brooks@live.com