Dear Editor,

Isn’t it ironic that Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness has taken to criticising the prime minister for her silence? This, as much of Mr Shaw’s challenge against Mr Holness, for leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party, is predicated on the JLP leader’s presumed silence.

I find it interesting, too, that Mr Holness is suddenly becoming more vocal — even though he has justified his silence as a matter of leadership style and his different brand of politics in Jamaica.

I wonder what the Opposition leader wants the prime minister to say regarding the economy; and how would her speech address the concerns regarding the Jamaican economy? Does he think the minister of finance is also too quiet? Is he also interested in hearing from the minister of finance? But then again, his utterances were spoken on a campaign rally, and perhaps should be viewed solely as an attempt to appear effective (or more effective) especially since his job is now on the line with Mr Shaw’s challenge.

Isn’t it ironic that the leader of the Opposition, who, as prime minister, had warned of pending economic “bitter medicine” just before the 2011 General Election, is now presenting himself as the saviour from the bitter medicine that he had promised? Or is this bitter medicine too bitter — solely because he is not the doctor chosen to remedy the economy in the tough times that he warned us to anticipate — regardless of who was leading the country?

Keep in mind, too, that Mr Holness often speaks about himself as a constructive and transformational leader. Can his sentiments at the campaign rally in Old Harbour be labelled as either constructive or transformational, especially when they can affect consumer confidence in the economy?

Of course, I concur with Mr Holness that our country yearns for a transformational leader who will criticise constructively, and not solely to incite frustration or gain political mileage. So, please allow me to borrow a few of Mr Holness’s words from his campaign speech on Sunday. “With all of the problems, the country has not heard anything from the” Opposition leader — except for his sudden frequent utterances. Isn’t it ironic that Mr Shaw revealed his “big ideas” on Sunday, while Mr Holness was fiercely criticising without any substantive alternative? Alluding to this newspaper’s report (October 15) of your rhetoric to the mass rally, I beg you, Mr Holness, please do not just “stand [there] and allow [our] country to perish”. What is your vision for the economy? And what innovative ideas do you have to rescue Jamaica from its present economic crisis? Indeed, it would be far too ironic if you remain silent on these issues, or you just don’t have any innovative ideas that would inspire our people.

Dwayne O C Campbell

Rochester, USA

dwayneoccampbell@gmail.com