Dear Editor,
Ever notice whenever the Jamaica Labour Party starts getting some form of traction the editorials, columnists, and letter writers come out en masse?
It's deliberate. Truth is, Jamaica is overwhelmingly and unhealthily PNP. Every sector (including media) in the country supports that party and have a vested interest in them staying in power.
Andrew Holness is not the worst; we certainly won't know how good a prime minister he would be if he is not given an extended chance. He and Chris Tufton are certainly the most promising of Jamaica's young politicians. To me, they are more competent than the current crop.
But here lies the JLP's dilemma. If Tufton were leader, he too would be ridiculed. He is not covered in orange. Not cuddled like the prime minsiter and the ministers who thrive on good looks.
Further, here lies Jamaica's problem. While we reject a Holness or a Tufton, we continue to embrace journeymen politicians like Derrick Kellier, Omar Davies, and the prime minister, people who are way past their prime. And others with massive instances of failure, like Colin Campbell and Phillip Paulwell, are still around making the same costly errors. There are no editorials, columns or letters en masse calling for their heads.
In 2011, Bloomberg News, impressed by his grasp of issues, described Holness as a "breath of fresh air". But in Jamaica where having a grasp of issues counts for nothing, he's considered a buffoon.
Mark Wignall, another who has done his time, believes Jamaica needs an 'agitator' to lead it. What a qualification for a country overrun by ignorants and corruption.
Jagdeo was Guyana's game-changer; Bissasor is the same for Trinidad. For years, those countries suffered from the journeyman syndrome. Jamaica, follow suit before it's too late.
Ronnie Hendrix
Kingston 6
Ever notice whenever the Jamaica Labour Party starts getting some form of traction the editorials, columnists, and letter writers come out en masse?
It's deliberate. Truth is, Jamaica is overwhelmingly and unhealthily PNP. Every sector (including media) in the country supports that party and have a vested interest in them staying in power.
Andrew Holness is not the worst; we certainly won't know how good a prime minister he would be if he is not given an extended chance. He and Chris Tufton are certainly the most promising of Jamaica's young politicians. To me, they are more competent than the current crop.
But here lies the JLP's dilemma. If Tufton were leader, he too would be ridiculed. He is not covered in orange. Not cuddled like the prime minsiter and the ministers who thrive on good looks.
Further, here lies Jamaica's problem. While we reject a Holness or a Tufton, we continue to embrace journeymen politicians like Derrick Kellier, Omar Davies, and the prime minister, people who are way past their prime. And others with massive instances of failure, like Colin Campbell and Phillip Paulwell, are still around making the same costly errors. There are no editorials, columns or letters en masse calling for their heads.
In 2011, Bloomberg News, impressed by his grasp of issues, described Holness as a "breath of fresh air". But in Jamaica where having a grasp of issues counts for nothing, he's considered a buffoon.
Mark Wignall, another who has done his time, believes Jamaica needs an 'agitator' to lead it. What a qualification for a country overrun by ignorants and corruption.
Jagdeo was Guyana's game-changer; Bissasor is the same for Trinidad. For years, those countries suffered from the journeyman syndrome. Jamaica, follow suit before it's too late.
Ronnie Hendrix
Kingston 6