This week saw a great deal of focus being placed on two women belonging to the People’s National Party (PNP) — Portia Simpson Miller and Nekeisha Burchell, the former representing the past while the latter, in my opinion, embodies the present.

This Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Administration defied political logic when it decided to name two eminent buildings — Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the soon-to-be completed Western Child and Adolescent Hospital in Montego Bay — in honour of Simpson Miller, who shattered the proverbial glass ceiling to become the first female to head the PNP and later on Jamaica’s first female prime minister.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness also announced that the Portia Simpson Miller Square in her constituency will be restored. Kudos to you, sir, and your JLP colleagues in Government for such a magnanimous gesture, significantly done while this great Jamaican woman is still alive. It is to be noted, too, that this was done in a climate of increasing partisan divisiveness. Indeed, some Labourites have already taken to social media to chastise Dr Holnesss for making such a decision, and even some sceptics in the PNP have suggested that his acts of kindness towards “Sista P” at this time are designed to detract from a number of controversial matters of State that are besetting his Administration.

Meanwhile, the St James Southern Member of Parliament Burchell has not had such luck. On the heels of her controversial debut sectoral debate presentation in the House of Parliament when she commenced to speak in Jamaican Patois, she has apparently put her foot in her mouth during a podcast interview in which she characterised the House Speaker Juliet Holness’s behaviour in that hallowed chamber as akin to a domineering wife in her familial home. Much brimstone and fire has been heaped on her head, including an unprecedented move by three prominent female JLP members of the legislature who took her to task and condemned her for having made what they believe to be disparaging remarks against their “Holinesses”.

Quite frankly, I have read and listened to the contents of that podcast and it is my considered opinion that the “Queen of the South” did not specifically or deliberately depict the nation’s first couple as being in an abusive relationship. Unfortunately, we live in a society in which words are oftentimes twisted to suit respective agendas and, in this case, the nefarious intentions of many — including detractors as well as those who neither read nor listened to her remarks but are hell-bent on crucifying her in the name of moral outrage or partisan vindictiveness — took centre stage.

The sad truth is that women in Jamaican politics cannot do what their male counterparts do and still be ladies. Simpson Miller suffered a similar fate on the hustings. Remember that “no bwoy, no gyal” outburst? Indeed, compare that and what Burchell is being accused of and juxtapose them against what some male MPs have said and it becomes clear that there is much hypocrisy and double standard parading as righteous indignation.

I recall when a certain prominent political commentator and pseudo-journalist told me that he would not employ Simpson Miller to be his maid. I also remember once, when travelling on a flight from New York first class to Montego Bay, a certain upper-class woman sitting beside me looked at the newspaper I was reading, which had a photograph of Simpson Miller, and remarked with a smirk, “That woman, ugh! What a thing when dishcloth becomes tablecloth!”

And then, even in her own party, when she ran against the three “doctors” for the presidency of the PNP, she was vilified as being dunce and lacking in class. Lest we forget, too, the sad truth is that she was hastily forced out of the party leadership and prime ministerial role as rumours swirled that she was no longer mentally capable. To this day, there are many people within and outside of the PNP who remain bitter over the way Sista P was treated because there were those who had certain ambitions and she was in their way.

Burchell, therefore, had better “Tek sleep mark death”. Already, there is talk in some circles that she has the makings of a future prime minister. As far-fetched as this may sound, women in Jamaican politics still remain an endangered species and must always watch their backs.

Some residents of St James will recall when Burchell started her campaign to unseat the incumbent MP Homer Davis she was ridiculed on a JLP platform by three prominent male members of that party who made some very suggestive and sexist comments about her. There was not much uproar coming from female Labourites then, just giggles.

As I have stated elsewhere, up-and-coming parliamentarians such as Burchell need to be mentored and groomed for even greater service to the nation, not just derided, ridiculed, or dismissed as just “too nuff”. From all indications, she has begun the process of being a responsive and responsible representative of her people.

Having come from the bowels of the masses like Simpson Miller, she will have to keep her eyes on the glass ceiling while watching her back, because she is bright, assertive, well educated, and, from all indications, is a committed nationalist.

Pity that she cannot now sit at the feet of Sista P and gain some good advice, but there is elder statesman and PNP stalwart PJ Patterson, who should take her under his wings and mentor her, because, from all indications, she has a positive political future and can contribute much to the advancement of women in the choppy waters of a male-dominated Jamaican political environment.

In her current role as the culture, creative industries and information spokesperson, she is well positioned to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to Jamaica’s body politic. Give her a chance, just as Sista P fought for and got. The spirit of Nanny, our national heroine, must not be demeaned or discouraged.

Lloyd B Smith has been involved full-time in Jamaican media for the past 50 years. He has also served as a People’s National Party Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lbsmith4@gmail.com.

Nekeisha Burchell

Juliet Holness

Andrew Holness (Photo: Garfield Robinson)