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Pass the torch

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Dear Editor,

The mighty People’s National Party that dominated the political landscape, a party that has produced men who are giants among their peers, men who have left indelible footprints on the sand of the political movement in Jamaica has morphed into an organisation that would not be unrecognised by those who gave selfless sacrifice to the building of this noble institution.

The poet William Shakespeare eloquently wrote: “This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell, my blessing season this in thee.” The current leadership of the People’s National Party must be true to its own self with the path that it has taken this noble institution.

The election is over and Comrades who have an undying faith in the party have been feeling the pangs of this most unlikely defeat and the silence of the leadership is deafening. This is the contempt shown to those who marched hand in hand to the mountaintops.

To make the defeat more painful is to watch the party leader appoint to the Opposition slate of senators the “Old Order”, another classic display of contempt to the supporters of the People’s National Party.

Norman Washington Manley quoted Franz Fanon in his ultimate address to the party, “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it, in relative opacity.” My question to Portia Simpson Miller is, what is your mission at this stage of your political journey? You have lost an election twice as prime minister and at the age of 70, what is there to contribute in the closing stage of your inning?

It would be remiss of me not to highlight the mountains you have climbed, barriers you have hurdled, the glass ceiling that you have broken, the indelible mark you have left on the history of Jamaica; your name will be mentioned in glowing terms in the annals of history, Portia Simpson Miller. However, you will negate that glowing tribute if you continue to hold on to the impossible dream. The party needs to review and revisit its core principles and objectives, and the current leadership is not the one to move the party forward.

I will leave Simpson Miller a quote from Reed Markham: “Outstanding leaders pass the torch with the fire blazing. Mediocre leaders pass a dimly lit touch, and poor leaders drop the torch, making it difficult if not impossible to pick again.” The PNP is bigger than any one individual. Time for renewal.

Clive George Mortley

Springfield Garden, NY, USA

cgmortley@yahoo.com

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