Dear Editor,

With just 17 months before the next general election is due, this year’s budget speech from Government and Opposition members will have to meet certain objectives. In the case of the Government, it will have to prove if it deserves a third term, while the Opposition will have to show the nation that it is united and its performance in the local government elections was not a fluke.

Dr Nigel Clarke, the finance minister, did an okay job but failed on the issue of the Government-promised $1.5 million 2.0. Julian Robinson, Opposition finance spokesman, failed miserably by not even attempting to persuade the nation how the party would fund its $3-million income tax promise in one go.

A lot of my fellow Labourites are not fans of mine because I always call it the way I see it. Opposition Leader Mark Golding accomplished his main objectives: to motivate his base and to address policy issues. I believe he did extremely well regarding policy. According to him, the first phase of his $3-million income tax threshold would’ve been $2 million and not $1.7 million. Both parties, however, failed to deliver on their local government elections campaign promises. Only a biased person believes the 2.0 version of $1.5 million is $1.7 million and that the 3.0 version of the $1.5 million is $2 million.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the Government were wrong to walk out during an Opposition speech, especially a budget presentation. I believe this is the first time since Independence, and maybe since 1944, that we have had government members leading a walkout of Parliament. I am all for walkouts but not during a budget presentation. Our budget presentation is like the State of the Union Address by the president of the United States of America.

Also, a walkout by government members comprising the overwhelming majority will clearly turn the Opposition into the victims. It is showing that they are not interested in leading anymore. Prime Minister Holness, for the first time since the ‘letter-gate’ saga, is very vulnerable. The wife or husband of a leader in politics will get attacked, especially if that person was elected by the people.

I respect Juliet Holness, but taking on the position of House Speaker was not a good move. Everald Warmington would’ve been the best person for this job but clearly his temperament is an issue. I’m saying that to say this: Juliet’s popularity among members of the House is not a reason for her to be the Speaker. The leader of the executive branch and the Speaker should not be from the same household. The best position for Juliet is in the Cabinet.

Talk of sexism by some political commentators is foolishness. House Speakers are normally attacked by the Opposition; therefore, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert’s and Juliet’s gender should not be used as an excuse for anyone not to question or attack them.

The Opposition will likely be tempted not to visit Parliament, but my advice is to attend Parliament in white, tape their mouths, and refuse to applaud the prime minister’s speech in protest.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 will go down as the day Golding fully became a political monster and gained a lot of confidence. Prime Minister Holness and the Jamaica Labour Party need to stop underestimating him. It was a very powerful scene to see the leader of the Opposition on the steps of Gordon House finishing his budget presentation. Fourteen members causing 49 members to walk out of Parliament is not good optics.

Prime Minister Holness must learn to put personal feelings aside and govern. Now-deceased former Prime Minister Edward Seaga went through worse and he never led his Administration to a walkout .

Teddylee Gray

Ocho Rios, St Ann

teddylee.gray@gmail.com