COME November, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will no doubt be having its annual conference, which should be a grand and upbeat affair coming in the wake of its historic thirdterm victory a year ago.

In this vein, it is perhaps more than appropriate to assess the party’s first year in this new Administration which has been overshadowed and challenged by the marauding winds of Hurricane Melissa. Indeed, any realistic and honest assessment of this chaotic period would have to be examined against the backdrop of that natural disaster in terms of how the Dr Andrew Holness-led Cabinet has performed or not performed.

Interestingly, Prime Minister Dr Holness has been honest in admitting that not everything has gone well so far. Indeed, notwithstanding an extensive and sometimes overbearing public relations campaign touting resilience and performance, the recovery process has had many foul-ups, bleeps, and blunders.

In this context, what has transpired in the education system up to this point should cause the Administration to barely scrape through with a passing grade. In the meantime, the recovery efforts in western Jamaica have again fallen short of being spectacular. So now the nation waits with bated breath to see what the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) can do to remove the egg from Dr Holness’s face.

Be that as it may, this writer would like to present a scorecard on the overall performance of the prime minister and his 19-member Cabinet. Dr Holness, the first among equals, is minister of defence and minister of economic growth and infrastructure development, the latter a humongous and wide-ranging portfolio that concentrates tremendous power and spheres of influence in his hands. To list the many agencies and government bodies currently under his wing would be tiresome. Suffice it to say, he is monarch of all he surveys!

And how is he managing? Read the tea leaves. Already, he himself has admitted that there are some serious headwinds moving in on the economy, including slow growth and an insidious inflationary cycle (my words) that in the long run may force the Government to raise taxes, tighten wage restraints, and go hat in hand to the lending conglomerates.

To put it bluntly, the good ship Jamaica is being tossed about in choppy waters primarily because of the geopolitical storms affecting the world at large, thanks in much part to the enigmatic United States President Donald J Trump. Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson has already sounded the alarm and he is not known to be a doom and gloom mischief-maker. However, when all is said and done, as captain of the ship, Dr Holness appears to be fully in charge and riding the crest of the waves, exuding much confidence and a keen sense of purpose as well as an acute understanding of what needs to be done, which he articulates well, notwithstanding his detractors. Against this backdrop, he deserves a B. Of course, his Achilles heel is the continuing perception of corruption in his administration and repeated instances of arrogance and bombast.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace Dr Horace Chang is the “star boy” of the Cabinet. Even his worst detractors (my mother always said, “Give the Devil his due”) must admit that the good doctor has done a fine job with respect to his demanding portfolio. Murders are down dramatically as well as several other crime-related activities (not an ordinary feat), and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been empowered and emboldened to carry out its tasks in a dedicated and increasingly efficient manner. Of course, the spectre of extra-judicial killings is not to be overlooked and may well in the long run besmirch what has been otherwise a good record so far. Dr Chang deserves an A.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams has had the seemingly insurmountable task of following in the footsteps of the inimitable Dr Nigel Clarke. Her seemingly laid back and soft-spoken demeanor may well suggest that she is having difficulties filling those big shoes. Already, there has been a number of glitches and missteps as she tries hard to tackle what must be the most difficult Cabinet portfolio. Then, too, there has been speculation inside and outside of the JLP as to whether or not she is “man enough” for the job and that she may be a casualty in any future Cabinet reshuffle. Suffice it to say, she appears to be trying her best even if that is not good enough. Her rating is C+.

Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, has been deftly walking through the raindrops as she navigates what her prime minister describes as a “pragmatic approach” on the world stage amidst the tumultuous geopolitical environment. This, in essence, means Jamaica must neither be fish, fowl, nor red herring — just blah!

There was a time when Jamaica, as a Third-World upstart and active member of the non-aligned movement, operated with a moral compass that was respected worldwide. Today, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has stolen our thunder and Minister Johnson Smith has become more of a fashion statement on the world stage. The current saga surrounding the controversial third-country national (TCN) kerfuffle with the United States has seriously dented her otherwise Teflon armour. Her rating, C-. By the way, is foreign trade really an active component of her ministry?

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett gets an A+, hands down. Enough said!

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton is a likeable, sweet-talking technocrat who can sell snow to the Eskimos. Stripped of his magical powers in marketing, he is yet to wrest his portfolio from the many quagmires it oftentimes finds itself in. He does mean well and is a visionary, but somehow the harsh realities in patient care and the many issues facing the doctors and nurses under his portfolio put him between a rock and a hard place. He gets C+.

Olivia “Babsy” Grange is the consummate minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport. Indeed, she is the embodiment of a phenomenal woman occupying that post at the right time in Jamaica’s history. Notwithstanding her “pussycat adventures”, she undoubtedly deserves an A.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck is very passionate about his job and takes it seriously, perhaps too seriously at times. But his hands-on approach, being in the trenches, and interfacing almost daily with his major stakeholders make him deserving of a B+.

The education, skills, youth and information portfolio needs to be revisited, Prime Minister, as it is a very conflictingly mixed bag. Its minister, Senator Dana Morris Dixon, needs to be relieved of some of those areas so that she can give her fullest attention to a creaking, rickety education system.

From all indications, she means well and appears to enjoy what she is doing, but Education is in a quandary that has been further exacerbated by Hurricane Melissa as well as the socio-economic and cultural negatives plaguing the school system. Sweet talking and smiles alone cannot cut it. She has to stand and deliver. So far, her efforts can only put her in a C+ category.

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Aubyn Hill is being overshadowed by his Junior Minister Delano Seiveright, who has turned out to be a bright spark in the Holness Administration. Minister Hill has not been much of a heavyweight so far, and one is yet to see the fruits of his labour. His rating is C.

Local Government and Rural Development Minister Desmond McKenzie has displayed a very human side when dealing with aspects of his portfolio, but he needs to pursue a more transformational path. It’s a C+ for him.

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr is articulate, well-groomed, and approaches his portfolio in a business-like, competent manner. He has earned a B+.

Daryl Vaz, known as Mr Fix-it, is brash and oftentimes in your face, but for the most part, he gets the job done. His ministry is a very critical component in the scheme of things and he has shown so far that he has the guts and determination to get the job done. He gets B+.

Floyd Green, minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, is an asset to the Holness Cabinet, carrying out his portfolio with much energy, zeal, and stick-to-itiveness. B+ for him.

As for the minister without portfolio Robert Morgan, the “Works” man is working, working, working, which has earned him a B.

Robert Montague is more in the shadows, but when he emerges he shows he can get the job done in the area of land titling and settlements. It’s a C+ for him.

Andrew Wheatley, as the science, technology and special projects minister, is a very skilled and capable individual who is most suited for that area in terms of his academic background. Such a pity his Integrity Commission controversy has overshadowed his claim to fame. For his work he gets a C+.

Audrey Marks, who is responsible for efficiency, innovation and digital transformation, should be better utilised as her present portfolio is somewhat cosmetic and overlaps with a number of other ministries. Her presence earns her a C.

Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda appears to be burning the midnight oil, especially with his handling of the country’s ongoing water crisis. This is a young politician to watch. His future looks very bright. B+ for him.

All in all, the Holness Cabinet augurs well for the future of the country and the party, but it is early days, so we have to wait and see whether it is going to be a case of the best or worse to come. Next week, I shall examine the People’s National Party Shadow Cabinet. Stay tuned!

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

Lloyd B Smith