Dear Editor,

I take the opportunity to congratulate all stakeholders who have played a part in the 17 per cent reduction in all major crime. Whatever strategies were employed, I pray that they will be continuously used, and new ones implemented wherever necessary, so that the trajectory may continue.

However, I have a major concern considering the fact that the country’s general election draws closer. I have read quite a few columns reviewing the previous year and the findings are rather interesting. In the previous year, quite a few government ministers received calls for their resignation. They faced harsh criticism, but managed to pull through and show their detractors that they have the capacity to overcome and to fulfil their mandate.

I, therefore, wish to highlight three government ministers who have done well in the previous year. The first is security minister Peter Bunting. He was heavily criticised for acknowledging that the work is beyond his capabilities and that we need divine help. Then we have finance minister, Dr Peter Phillips. His detractors have not given him the credit that is due. Passing six consecutive IMF tests is commendable. As such, the economy is now experiencing growth, so much so that Dr Phillips says there will be more jobs this year. Then finally we have the education minister, Ronald Thwaites. Clearly he is doing an excellent job; no wonder he was among the government ministers most favoured by the public shown by the Bill Johnson polls.

Given that these ministers are doing a fair enough job, what would happen if the PNP loses the next general election? Will we not lose track of the successes that we might have had in these areas? Mark you, I am not supporting the PNP, I am supporting performance backed by evidence. I am not convinced that these ministers should be changed as they are doing such wonderful work. The areas of education, national security and finance are critical to the overall growth and development of any country.

Am I suggesting that the PNP should have a go at another term? Not really. What I am suggesting is that Jamaica adopts a system that is called a coalition government. A coalition government is a Cabinet of a parliament in which several political parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party within that coalition. The usual reason for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament. Such a move will allow Jamaica to get on track and grow the economy. For clearly the two-party system is not working, and we need something that works.

Kenroy Davis

Hyde District, Clark’s Town

kenroy.davis20@gmail.com