Dear Editor,
We must be wary of persons who propagate the gospel of consensus, because we do not know their true intentions. The prime minister and members of her Administration enjoy using terms like "consultation and transparency" but, based on their actions, we now know that these sentiments mean nothing to them. An Administration that believes in transparency would do more to accommodate the media.
Since, this Administration is more adept at winning elections than the Opposition, there seems to be an inherent belief in some quarters that the People's National Party (PNP)
owns Jamaica, and anyone attempting to dispel this myth is often accused of undermining the present Administration. And it appears that Portia Simpson Miller is a fervent believer in this doctrine, because her actions do not imply otherwise.
Although she was highly critical of the previous Administration, it is now blasphemous for anyone to suggest that her Administration is corrupt or members of the party are performing below par. Therefore, taxpayers should not have a problem with the tribalism of Glendon Harris, the incompetence of Peter Bunting, the aloofness of Anthony Hylton, nor the arrogance of Richard Azan.
After all, it should not concern us when Bills are passed in Parliament without debate, because the PNP knows what is best for Jamaica. And, why should we have an interest in the cost of the prime minister's foreign excursions when she is only accountable to the PNP?
Unfortunately, several individuals have bought into the idea, that the PNP is only answerable to the PNP, some are even claiming that the media should "tread with caution" when dealing with the prime minister. This is a faulty argument because there was no backlash when the media was barred from accessing important meetings, so the press is indeed "treading with caution". But the prime minister is not accountable to the public, so no journalist should badger her with serious questions?
It is also quite ironic that the honourable prime minister is never afraid to give long speeches about sports or comment on positive events, but she never addresses the hard questions.
When the PNP won the election in 2011 it was a victory solely for the PNP, and there was only a consensus between the members of the PNP. By voting for the PNP voters supported this agreement without knowing what the agreement entailed. During the election season, Mrs Simpson Miller's rhetoric was so enticing that most persons opted to forget that her party was never known for accountability or transparency. Though her Administration will never exhibit these qualities, some are still expecting transformation, but blind obedience to bad leadership only reinforces corruption. The more this Administration is appeased, the more corrupt it will become and the people will have no one to blame but themselves.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
This banner of consensus
-->
We must be wary of persons who propagate the gospel of consensus, because we do not know their true intentions. The prime minister and members of her Administration enjoy using terms like "consultation and transparency" but, based on their actions, we now know that these sentiments mean nothing to them. An Administration that believes in transparency would do more to accommodate the media.
Since, this Administration is more adept at winning elections than the Opposition, there seems to be an inherent belief in some quarters that the People's National Party (PNP)
owns Jamaica, and anyone attempting to dispel this myth is often accused of undermining the present Administration. And it appears that Portia Simpson Miller is a fervent believer in this doctrine, because her actions do not imply otherwise.
Although she was highly critical of the previous Administration, it is now blasphemous for anyone to suggest that her Administration is corrupt or members of the party are performing below par. Therefore, taxpayers should not have a problem with the tribalism of Glendon Harris, the incompetence of Peter Bunting, the aloofness of Anthony Hylton, nor the arrogance of Richard Azan.
After all, it should not concern us when Bills are passed in Parliament without debate, because the PNP knows what is best for Jamaica. And, why should we have an interest in the cost of the prime minister's foreign excursions when she is only accountable to the PNP?
Unfortunately, several individuals have bought into the idea, that the PNP is only answerable to the PNP, some are even claiming that the media should "tread with caution" when dealing with the prime minister. This is a faulty argument because there was no backlash when the media was barred from accessing important meetings, so the press is indeed "treading with caution". But the prime minister is not accountable to the public, so no journalist should badger her with serious questions?
It is also quite ironic that the honourable prime minister is never afraid to give long speeches about sports or comment on positive events, but she never addresses the hard questions.
When the PNP won the election in 2011 it was a victory solely for the PNP, and there was only a consensus between the members of the PNP. By voting for the PNP voters supported this agreement without knowing what the agreement entailed. During the election season, Mrs Simpson Miller's rhetoric was so enticing that most persons opted to forget that her party was never known for accountability or transparency. Though her Administration will never exhibit these qualities, some are still expecting transformation, but blind obedience to bad leadership only reinforces corruption. The more this Administration is appeased, the more corrupt it will become and the people will have no one to blame but themselves.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
This banner of consensus
-->