People build houses every day; large ones, small ones, all sorts, but can electoral fortunes be decided by a house? The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) may be wondering whether a house is an asset or a liability — timing is key. Single events as a Trojan horse decide politics; as Greece drowns in debt Ekali. Athens has opulent houses with marble driveways but not “in your face” — the masses will riot.

Granny says, “There is a time to build, but if you build your kraal on a hill at election time there will be consequences.” Peeps say the only politician who built house to make headlines was multimillionaire Mayor Cecil Charlton of Mandeville; and his shifted a paradigm — first to break the million-dollar barrier. He was self-made, rags to riches, did a lot of good for libraries. His wealth was transparent as a horserace — a folk hero. His house was a tribute to what money can do when properly domesticated. Opposition Leader Andrew Holness is no Cecil Charlton!

The ‘Holness defends his house’ headline in June 21, 2015 Sunday Observer and the self referential sermon on honesty and frugality were rich. No authority asked or queried the family budget, so why? Andrew put his house in the public domain for his purpose, of his own free will, and it is now on the election agenda. If unsolicited private disclosures catch on, we may be inundated by minutiae to distract us from public issues — Please, no more!

The JLP was shaping a good platform and candidates to knit a credible fabric, now this! The house is no big thing but politicians who go for trappings over substance — when voters are in pain — will suffer. So was house disclosure a pre-emptive move ordered by the JLP; prompted by conscience? Noah saved the world in his dwelling, but may leaders build while in paid service to God and country?

In building a house do neighbours matter? Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition is not a private person. He is paid, officed, secured — a part of government and a caring man would apologises to neighbours. The media was kind for years as no one cited the noise, dust, burst pipes, mash-up road, drilling, night work, or neighbour nuisance. Some sniped at the house-in-process, but no one tried to hurt him, and none expected him to take bait. Granny says, “some tings good fi eat but nuh good fi talk”, so this trivial house may well determine the electoral fate of the JLP.

The title of this column parodies Shakespeare’s arrogant King Richard, who cried out: “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!” as Catesby advises “Withdraw, My Lord…” Richard would not and lost horse and country. Is a house worth it to the JLP?

Can a house tell us about the owner? Buy a house and you take what you get, but build one and it says a lot about you — wine cellar, bidet, dumbwaiter, chapel? Does a walled compound reflect mental state? If you feel besieged a moat with crocodiles is peace of mind; but to darken next door with 50ft walls, or block a view, drives the neighbours crazy.

Call on MPs to take a salary cut but as people add what you say to what they see the politics is clear. Prime ministers live in secluded, well-appointed houses, but a man who chooses to build a Boma on a hill then surround it with massive walls as faux privacy may be schizo. Tucker Avenue, Drumblair, and Garth Road housed well-loved prime ministers; those extant live in quiet, green, orchid girded settings — not gauche gaiety.

What does a built house say of your judgement? Planters were ostentatious; not “an intensely private person by nature” and you had to navigate a long driveway to see the great house — not in your face. So, when is a new house urgent? Is it like when “near to menopause so have a kid now”? A leader has one brain, so fuzzy thinking in private life has import for public conduct. One man’s confusion escalated to public affairs is dangerous, so the International Monetary Fund is ‘evil’, but what’s the option? So, we can diss them like Greece, what’s the cure for default?

So, Portia is on a hard, rough path, but Andrew has a smooth road machine? Dream on! A man builds a most ostentatious house on a most ostentatious hill in the most ostentatious suburb of our city, how it rankles his “natural humility” — poor thing! House trivia must not distract the People’s National Party Government from moving the conversation to hard issues and values. Andrew’s 2011 decision divided Christmas, families and lost the JLP the elections. Will the house impact a post Xmas poll? A young family man, prime minister in waiting needs a great house, but some things are best done after the approbation of a grateful nation for services rendered in building national prosperity. Timing is everything!

Heat wave in London and Kingston

July 1 was the hottest day in London — 35 degrees Celsius. We get balmy weather in the 80s and have no public advisories for a heat wave. In 2030 we may be rich and treat people as human; now we are in a heat wave with no guidance for the poor and vulnerable — pets, plants or people. Some countries get cold, hot and have advice daily on media — a new Riverton smoke?

What is Cabinet’s advisory to farmers, workers, the courts, JUTC drivers — keep hydrated, look out for heat-stressed kids. At school, avoid overexertion; dehydration, pale lips, faces, low blood pressure; be calm don’t exercise in the sun. Our Latin neighbours invented the siesta, we have flexi-time, let’s try it!

London trains run slow so the lines do not buckle in the heat, we rush around like mad ants. Wimbledon’s umbrellas are for sun this year, fewer allowed in stands and the lines for the water coolers are longer than for liquor. Check for the vulnerable; carry water, big hat, sunglasses, apply sunscreen to avoid skin cancer; fill a bucket of water for dogs, animals; old folk are high risk so expect heat stroke casualties; cut the sermon to 15 minutes, avoid crowds. We are a harsh loveless society with no public water fountains or toilets. Why can’t Cabinet love us and proactively and caringly plan for our needs? It costs nothing to care! Stay conscious!

Dr Franklin Johnston is a strategist, project manager and advises the minister of education. franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com