Dear Editor,

The Government has passed a Bill for Portmore to become Jamaica’s 15th parish. However, the parliamentary Opposition and other supporters of the People’s National Party (PNP) have voiced their dissatisfaction with the move, with some calling the decision gerrymandering.

The signs are even clearer that we are in a general election year. The atmosphere is tense as both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and PNP want to form the next Government. So they are going the extra mile to win majority of the seats when Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announces the date.

But the PNP leaders and supports seem ready, as they have repeatedly called on the prime minister to “call it”. However, I have maintained that while the Comrades might be ready to go to the polls, they are in no shape to form the next Government of Jamaica. They have not given the electorate any concrete reason they deserve to be voted into office.

They have been campaigning on the JLP’s so-called scandals, corruption, and lack of integrity; however, it did not take long for their own sins to catch up on them and for their own tactics to backfire. As evidenced when Opposition Senator Donna Scott-Mottley invited her Upper House colleagues to admit that corruption exists on both sides of the aisle. But the PNP has to do everything in its power to prevent the JLP from securing a third term.

In fact, the “third-term” chorus often repeated by Labourites and the unbridled support they show to Prime Minister Holness on a regular basis bother the PNP. For those of us who pay attention to discourse analysis, we notice that JLP Members of Parliament always reference Holness whenever they are asked to comment on anything by the media. That is not to say there might not be disagreements when they meet privately, but they speak boldly of their leader in public — a good strategy, I believe.

It would appear that even former Prime Minister PJ Patterson is worried about Holness securing a third term, given his recent public criticisms of the Government. Patterson is on record as Jamaica’s longest-serving prime minister (1992-2006), totalling 14 years. A win in favour of the JLP may position Holness to eventually surpass Patterson’s score.

The former prime minister’s open scolding of a sitting prime minister and his Administration is sort of an unusual practice, and his remarks on the state of crime in the country has been met with mixed reactions. While crime is still a national concern, and some people are still waiting to sleep with their windows and doors open, industry leaders have welcomed the decline in crime and violence, as evidenced by the statistics provided by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson was quick and right in his rebuke of Patterson. With the horrible years endured under his leadership, Patterson should be the last person to comment on some of these issues of national importance. Whenever his name is mentioned in the media, it triggers a lot of people.

But, again, it is an election year, so perhaps the PNP has to send out all its batsmen — even those in retirement — to add runs to its dismal score.

The former prime minister, who has a background in law, has also indicated support for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) becoming Jamaica’s final appellate court as part of the constitutional reform process. However, the Government has repeatedly indicated that constitutional reform would be done on a phased basis.

The PNP is not in support of a referendum on this matter. It wants to decide for the people. Isn’t it then ironic that the same PNP is accusing the Government of using its majority to pass the Bill to make Portmore the 15th parish? They want a referendum on Portmore but do not support one for our final court? Therefore, I ask: What qualifies for a referendum and who decides if it is granted?

The behaviour and mindset of many Comrades appear non-progressive. They do not seem to be in favour of the development of Jamaica, or perhaps they believe that once the initiative is not being realised by the PNP, the party must work to block its progress.

Is the PNP an enemy of the State?

Oneil Madden

Maddenoniel@yahoo.com