Dear Editor,

A letter to the editor declared ‘Put a stop to character assassination of Portia’ for she has served the country and people of Jamaica well over many decades.

There is no doubt that she has served the People’s National Party (PNP) and country well over many decades spanning some 40 years and deserves widespread commendation. However, the fact of the matter is that, as prime minister between 2012 and 2016, she has been a dismal failure as head of government, thus contributing significantly to the PNP’s loss in the recently concluded general election.

Simpson Miller as prime minister kept many non-performing Cabinet ministers in place, as, except for a few, too many were gigantic failures, simply put.

Peter Phillips was successful in passing 10 consecutive International Monetary Fund tests; however, no tangible annual economic growth was achieved; unemployment, poverty and cost of living all remained extremely high. Some $3.9 billion was scandalously spent on the short-term Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme; however, the majority of jobs were given to PNP hacks, activists and supporters and the country did not get value for money, which is a monumental disgrace.

Under the presidency of Simpson Miller the PNP has deteriorated and strayed from its core philosophies and values, many PNP MPs became lackadaisical, obnoxious in their behaviour towards their constituents, and the party became arrogant. The focus on Andrew Holness’s house was largely a turn-off, and many new and uncommitted voters saw it as ‘bad mind’, shallow thinking, and a party bankrupt of innovative, creative thinking. The PNP did not creditably articulate any specific economic development policies which would structurally grow the base of the economy by expanding the local manufacturing, productive and agricultural sectors. The party failed miserably and is urgently in need of renewal, reform and transformation.

Simpson Miller as party president, Paul Burke as general secretary, vice-presidents Noel Arscott, Derrick Kellier and Angela Brown Burke should all resign and allow new people to be appointed. My picks are: Peter Bunting for party president; vice-presidents Julian Robinson, Lisa Hanna, Phillip Paulwell; Raymond Price for general secretary, and deputies Damion Crawford and Floyd Morris; party chairman should be Mark Golding and Anthony Hylton his deputy.

Jamaica Observer columnist andNewsTalk 93 FM evening current affairs programme host Garfield Higgins is spot on when he recently said that the PNP is in political chaos and the leadership of the party should do the decent, appropriate and prudent thinking and resign and allow new people to be voted into office at a special delegates’ conference.

No one is tearing down and spewing political venom at Simpson Miller. She has to understand that she is the head of a political party and former prime minister and will undoubtedly have, from time to time, to tolerate a high level of criticism coming at her; it comes with the territory.

Simpson Miller is not a god and must understand that when she fails as prime minister and party president she must accept responsibility as leader and know when to graciously step aside.

Additionally, I am most disappointed at the her recently named senators. They seem a dull, unimpressive and visionless set.

Robert Dalley, Esq

St James

robertdalley1@hotmail.com