Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Editorial
September 18, 2016

Good sounds from the PNP, but talk is cheap

It’s a healthy sign that the People’s National Party (PNP) intends to act on the recommendations of its appraisal committee that looked at the reasons for the party’s narrow loss at the general election in February this year.

Because the easy thing to do would be to discuss and analyse the recommendations to the point where their non-implementation would have gone unnoticed, as has been the case with so many reports on a range of troubling issues.

Readers will recall that the appraisal committee recommended the creation of a central campaign management manual, as well as the need for aspiring candidates to be approved by the party’s Integrity Commission before facing the electorate.

The committee also recommended:

• That the party secretariat be strengthened in the areas of organising, enumeration, communication and recruitment

• The implementation of a pilot programme to reform the role of party groups

• The establishment of a group of mentors to provide guidance and support, especially to new members of parliament and candidates

• The need to develop a time frame within which internal disputes are resolved, and the decisive application of the necessary sanctions; and

• Strengthening of the political capacity and relationship of the party’s arms and affiliates by developing strategic objectives and a political work programme for each.

The committee, we recall, also said that while the secretariat will be responsible for the implementation of the recommendations, a sub-committee of the PNP’s executive committee should be set up to monitor the process after the suggestions are adopted by the party.

On Sunday, PNP President Portia Simpson Miller told the party faithful and, by extension, the wider Jamaica, that coming out of the 78th annual conference she will begin the implementation of the recommendations.

We will be watching to see if Mrs Simpson Miller will follow-up on that pledge, or whether she was merely making an announcement which, we have come to acknowledge, is a hobby of politicians.

In much the same way we will await further word, and indeed action, from the PNP president on her promise to “implement a more centralised system for campaign donations”.

For Mrs Simpson Miller is spot on in her declaration that any such system “must ensure that funds raised are properly accounted for and used for the purposes for which they were contributed”.

We agree with her that the matter of transparency in campaign financing applies to all political parties, and as such, we urge our legislators to give swift attention to the regulations governing the application of the law.

As we have stated before, while there is no system that is foolproof, we believe that this law will give the country some ammunition to insulate our democracy from purchase.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Multiple injuries reported following three-vehicle collision in Negril
Latest News, News
Multiple injuries reported following three-vehicle collision in Negril
July 8, 2026
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Several people were rushed to hospital for medical treatment following a three-vehicle collision on the Norman Manley Boulevar...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Alex Thomas ready for new challenge at Dunbeholden FC
Latest News, Sports
Alex Thomas ready for new challenge at Dunbeholden FC
July 8, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Alex Thomas is chomping at the bit to get going at his new club, Dunbeholden FC, for the upcoming Jamaica Premier League season. T...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica to participate in World Cup, JDA prepares for international draughts event
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica to participate in World Cup, JDA prepares for international draughts event
July 8, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica- As football fans across the Caribbean remain glued to the FIFA World Cup, another global tournament is preparing to place Jamaica f...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
Police to lift Greenvale curfew if area remains crime-free
July 8, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Against the backdrop of discussions with community leaders in Greenvale, head of the Manchester police Deputy Superintendent Ode...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Police urge robbers involved in shooting of pump attendant to surrender
Latest News, News
Police urge robbers involved in shooting of pump attendant to surrender
July 8, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The police are urging three men connected to the shooting of a pump attendant on  Deanery  Road on Wednesday, captured on CCTV cam...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
3.4 magnitude earthquake felt in sections of eastern Jamaica
Latest News, News
3.4 magnitude earthquake felt in sections of eastern Jamaica
July 8, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A minor earthquake was felt in Jamaica at 6:20 pm on Wednesday; preliminary reports from the Earthquake Unit have indicated. Resid...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer", "breaking-news":"Push Notifications"}
Holland Bamboo in St Elizabeth to be pedestrianised for eco-tourism — Green
Latest News, News
Holland Bamboo in St Elizabeth to be pedestrianised for eco-tourism — Green
July 8, 2026
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Plans are under way to pedestrianise Holland Bamboo in St Elizabeth and transform the scenic location into an ecotourism desti...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US bombing to ‘get much worse’ if Iran doesn’t halt attacks: Trump
International News, Latest News
US bombing to ‘get much worse’ if Iran doesn’t halt attacks: Trump
July 8, 2026
AIR FORCE ONE, Undefined (AFP) — President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that US bombing of Iran will increase significantly if Tehran continues to at...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct