Dear Editor,
As of Sunday April 10, 2016 it seems that the People’s National Party (PNP) Young Turks have blown there chances of grasping power in the immediate future. To some they may say that the race is still in its early stages, but here I wish to point out where the Young Turks have failed and how it may cost them.
Almost immediately after the general election loss the knives were out for Portia Simpson Miller, and those who were in tune politically knew it. If the Young Turks were to have any chance they would have had to unite behind one of their own, create a front of youth, and a smattering of experience, and run as a ‘combined ticket’.
Instead, we have a Julian Robinsons ‘sleeper campaign’ — he has played no part in it. We have Lisa Hanna — not too subtly — hiding her aspirations. And Peter Bunting openly saying that he is interested. Instead of creating a united front they close bridges to success.
We see the continuation of the open hounding of people like Damion Crawford and Raymond Pryce, who dare to speak against the party line, and as such these Turks lose vital political capital in the eyes of a public that loves these two individuals.
The old guard, as expected, has coalesced around its preferred candidate, but strange things seem to be happening there. With Phillip Paulwell — who is no political novice — saying that now is not his time, but that he likes Peter Phillips (the man of the hour)? We will all have to sit up and take notice.
Could it be that Paulwell, who controls delegates and a safe seat, is paving the way for his ascension through Phillips by proxy? Phillips is not a young man, and will be all the more older whenever the next election is called, while Paulwell is still a sprightly 50-something.
Are the old guard offering up Peter Phillips — a man who’s reputation they know can’t be associated with the taint of scandal — as a place holder for the preferred candidate Paulwell so that he can burnish his reputation for a future run?
It wouldn’t be that surprising a move. For, no matter what you think of the PNP old guard, they are savvy political operators.
That move, if it comes off, could scuttle any chance the Young Turks have of shifting the ideological ground and mentality of the PNP. Peter Phillips — good man that he is — is of the P J Patterson mould ideologically, dead in the centre, but flirts with the idea of ‘populist rhetoric’.
With the Jamaica Labour Party now seemingly comfortable in its neoliberal skin the PNP needs to find its voice, and fast.
The Young Turks say the right things and seem to have their hearts in the right place, but that means nothing without power. In order to make the change that they so dearly preach about, and say they believe in, they must put aside personal ambition, form a credible bloc with MPs and delegates, and challenge the leader, whether publicly or privately. If not, then the old guard will have the upper hand; and it is my belief that once they have it they will be all the more harder to remove.
Alexander Scott
alexanderwj.scott@gmail.com
As of Sunday April 10, 2016 it seems that the People’s National Party (PNP) Young Turks have blown there chances of grasping power in the immediate future. To some they may say that the race is still in its early stages, but here I wish to point out where the Young Turks have failed and how it may cost them.
Almost immediately after the general election loss the knives were out for Portia Simpson Miller, and those who were in tune politically knew it. If the Young Turks were to have any chance they would have had to unite behind one of their own, create a front of youth, and a smattering of experience, and run as a ‘combined ticket’.
Instead, we have a Julian Robinsons ‘sleeper campaign’ — he has played no part in it. We have Lisa Hanna — not too subtly — hiding her aspirations. And Peter Bunting openly saying that he is interested. Instead of creating a united front they close bridges to success.
We see the continuation of the open hounding of people like Damion Crawford and Raymond Pryce, who dare to speak against the party line, and as such these Turks lose vital political capital in the eyes of a public that loves these two individuals.
The old guard, as expected, has coalesced around its preferred candidate, but strange things seem to be happening there. With Phillip Paulwell — who is no political novice — saying that now is not his time, but that he likes Peter Phillips (the man of the hour)? We will all have to sit up and take notice.
Could it be that Paulwell, who controls delegates and a safe seat, is paving the way for his ascension through Phillips by proxy? Phillips is not a young man, and will be all the more older whenever the next election is called, while Paulwell is still a sprightly 50-something.
Are the old guard offering up Peter Phillips — a man who’s reputation they know can’t be associated with the taint of scandal — as a place holder for the preferred candidate Paulwell so that he can burnish his reputation for a future run?
It wouldn’t be that surprising a move. For, no matter what you think of the PNP old guard, they are savvy political operators.
That move, if it comes off, could scuttle any chance the Young Turks have of shifting the ideological ground and mentality of the PNP. Peter Phillips — good man that he is — is of the P J Patterson mould ideologically, dead in the centre, but flirts with the idea of ‘populist rhetoric’.
With the Jamaica Labour Party now seemingly comfortable in its neoliberal skin the PNP needs to find its voice, and fast.
The Young Turks say the right things and seem to have their hearts in the right place, but that means nothing without power. In order to make the change that they so dearly preach about, and say they believe in, they must put aside personal ambition, form a credible bloc with MPs and delegates, and challenge the leader, whether publicly or privately. If not, then the old guard will have the upper hand; and it is my belief that once they have it they will be all the more harder to remove.
Alexander Scott
alexanderwj.scott@gmail.com