‘Fly di gate’ on the report, Holness
Dear Editor,
Let me make a public appeal to the Leader of the Opposition Mr Andrew Holness to make public the findings of the “review commission” he himself commissioned to look into the reasons for the Jamaica Labour Party’s colossal loss in both the last general and local government elections (2011 & 2012).
The review commissioned was carried out by eminent men and women of great national repute, and has had successful interactions with the public at large on the terms of reference of the commission itself. The report was finalised and handed to the party leader as far back as early 2013, and to date it has not been made public or even discussed at the various leadership levels in the area councils or at the constituency levels.
I make this appeal against the background that this report can be used as a very effective planning tool as the party approaches an imminent election and the rank and file party supporters, and local leaders who participated in the review process would have loved to know that their assessment and recommendations were not cast in the waste paper basket at Belmont Road.
Reports are that the non-disclosure of this report has been a topical issue at most constituency meetings, as they are of the belief that there are some ulterior motives in its non-disclosure.
I can remember after the People’s National Party’s loss in a particular general election it commissioned the Brian Meeks-led team to look into its defeat, the report was subsequently made public and the result of this is now history.
Where is the standing committee and the parliamentary group in all of this? Why are they behaving like “seedless” men and women, allowing one man to keep such an important piece of planning tool that can benefit the party closer to his chest than a bulletproof vest.
I beg of you, Holness, please release the report now! The workers who have made strong recommendations in the review are asking for it. You did not release it yesterday and tomorrow may be too late. Let’s have it today!
Fernandez Smith
fgeorgesmith@yahoo.com