Dear Editor,

Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s self-styled political maestro, continues his act on the national stage, but the script is wearing thin. His tenure has been riddled with scandals, missteps, and a governance style that prioritises public relations stunts over meaningful progress.

Let’s delve into the highlights — or, rather, the lowlights — of his leadership.

The Petrojam scandal was a masterclass in corruption. Under his watch, the State-run refinery became a playground for nepotism and mismanagement, all while Jamaicans struggled with rising gas prices.

Then there was the Caricel débâcle, where his Government approved a telecoms licence under a cloud of national security concerns — a move akin to handing the vault keys to a sign-waving “trust me” stranger.

And who could forget the SSL scandal? Billions vanished from Stocks and Securities Limited, including funds belonging to Usain Bolt, a national icon. Holness’s response? Tepid.

His constitutional blunders deserve their own chapter. Whether it’s his repeated misuse of states of emergency or the national identification system (NIDS) Bill débâcle, Holness has been racking up judicial reprimands along the way. The courts striking down his NIDS initiative over privacy concerns was a particularly embarrassing blow.

Holness’s go-to defence? Dragging P J Patterson and the People’s National Party’s 18-year tenure, as if it’s still relevant. Fourteen years have passed since Patterson’s leadership, and yet Holness clings to outdated talking points while fumbling his own opportunities to govern effectively.

Then there’s the house scandal. His lavish mansion stands as a glaring symbol of tone-deaf leadership, towering over a nation where many can barely afford basic housing.

Add to this his approach to crime — short-term fixes like emergency declarations, instead of a long-term vision — and you see a leader who governs with rhetoric rather than results.

Infrastructure, health care, education — all key areas suffering from neglect while Holness’s Administration focuses on photo ops and groundbreaking ceremonies for projects that rarely materialise. His leadership, much like a bad remix, is all noise and no substance.

In the end, Andrew Holness’s legacy is shaping up to be a lesson in missed opportunities and hollow promises.

He may look sharp in a suit, but for Jamaicans struggling under his leadership, style without substance offers little comfort.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

yannickpessoa@yahoo.com