Dear Editor,

Despite the controversies facing the current Administration, and what the polls show, there is a very strong possibility that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) could win the next election, even by a landslide.

There are many reasons behind this. First, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has an effective communications team, his social media in particular covers all platforms and is on point and current and relatable. Holness is out and about, making appearances, running marathons, giving away homes, engaging with public while ignoring the noise and any distractions.

The JLP Administration has faced many challenges over the years — from corruption to conflicts of interest. We recall when Kamina Johnson Smith made a surprise bid to unseat the incumbent Commonwealth secretary general, breaking ranks with the group decision of Caricom.

The prime minister’s statutory declarations have not been certified for years by the Integrity Commission. Despite this, he is out and about, smiling, taking photos and hugging and greeting anyone he comes in contact with.

The Dennis Chung appointment as head of the Financial Investigations Division (FID) is the most recent controversy and it is business as usual for the Administration.

It is not the first time we’ve seen appointments with conflict of interests or bias.The prime minister’s wife was appointed House Speaker, and no one seemed to care, including the Opposition, which endorsed the appointment. When laws were changed to allow the director of public prosecution’s (DPP) appointment to be extended weeks ahead of her birthday, which would’ve forced her into retirement, there was noise, but the court supported the extension and the DPP resumed her position.

It is bizarre that not long after former House Speaker Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert was fined for breaches to the Integrity Act, she was brought back as a candidate for JLP. I don’t see how anyone can compare Dalrymple-Philibert’s case to the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Isaat Buchanan, who served time decades ago and rehabilitated himself, completing a law degree and proved himself to be of value to society.

We are still waiting on the national identification system (NIDS) to be implemented, many years after it was announced and laws were modified to roll it out.

The move towards abolishing the UK monarch as head of state seems to be at a standstill. It was Michael Manley who first pushed for Jamaica to become a republic in the 1970s and decades later we are still deliberating and debating. The Government seems to be poorly advised on constitutional law, leading to many embarrassing moments when their actions are ruled unconstitutional.

Very little has been done to fight corruption, which reportedly costs the country nearly US$1 billion annually. Tourism continues to grow, with increased flights and visitor arrivals. But the protests a year ago by hotel workers put the spotlight on poor working conditions in the industry.

Although the PNP appears to be struggling with momentum, there is still hope if they can improve strategy, social media, and public relations. The recent demonstration against Chung’s appointment, for instance, were ill advised and unnecessary. You can’t give a Government a 72-hour ultimatum to rescind an appointment which was not illegal. The Opposition should put more focus on health care, especially hospitals; education; and social services, which are in dire need. Many government systems remain outdated: Imagine in 2025 pensioners must get quarterly life certificates signed to prove they are alive and eligible.

If only we were a normal society. In many countries, heads would roll, persons would be forced to resign, governments would be forced out of office, leaders would be impeached, and much of what we tolerate as normal would be rejected in a healthy democracy.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com