Dear Editor,
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz, in a statement recently, said, “Once you serve the people, the people will serve you.” Powerful words on the heels of another devastating blow to the People’s National Party (PNP) in the recent parish council elections.
The ruling party JLP took 8 of the 13 parish councils, including Kingston & St Andrew. The JLP, which has been doing very well in its first year of administration, must be encouraged by this endorsement. The PNP now has some serious soul searching to do, as the blow serves as a rejection of the ‘same old’ and the old-time divisive politics and leadership of which most people have grown tired.
The fact that Portia Simpson Miller failed to show up at PNP Headquarters after the defeat spoke volumes about her inadequacies as a leader. Her recent comments about “no bwoy, no gyal cannot trouble” her didn’t help either; if nothing else, it reminded us that, as a people, we are who we elect.
Although the ruling JLP is in control, the word ‘control’ is never a good thing in a democracy. We do need a vibrant Opposition for our democracy to work.
It was Lisa Hanna who trended the hashtag ‘renewal’ in a bid to secure one of the party’s vice-presidential posts recently. Hanna and her message were rejected by the party’s membership. The PNP now needs a proper cleansing and new energy to emerge if it is to be taken seriously. All organisations must grow and renew over time. The renewal of the PNP must start at the top and work its way right down. And the time to do it is now.
In the best interest of the party and the country, there should be no fear to do the right thing and challenge Portia Simpson Miller, whose time has long past. The PNP’s leadership must be challenged, and the party needs to take some time to completely reorganise and overhaul itself if it is to emerge once again as a party that is reputable and can function effectively as Opposition, and become a viable option to form a Government.
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz, in a statement recently, said, “Once you serve the people, the people will serve you.” Powerful words on the heels of another devastating blow to the People’s National Party (PNP) in the recent parish council elections.
The ruling party JLP took 8 of the 13 parish councils, including Kingston & St Andrew. The JLP, which has been doing very well in its first year of administration, must be encouraged by this endorsement. The PNP now has some serious soul searching to do, as the blow serves as a rejection of the ‘same old’ and the old-time divisive politics and leadership of which most people have grown tired.
The fact that Portia Simpson Miller failed to show up at PNP Headquarters after the defeat spoke volumes about her inadequacies as a leader. Her recent comments about “no bwoy, no gyal cannot trouble” her didn’t help either; if nothing else, it reminded us that, as a people, we are who we elect.
Although the ruling JLP is in control, the word ‘control’ is never a good thing in a democracy. We do need a vibrant Opposition for our democracy to work.
It was Lisa Hanna who trended the hashtag ‘renewal’ in a bid to secure one of the party’s vice-presidential posts recently. Hanna and her message were rejected by the party’s membership. The PNP now needs a proper cleansing and new energy to emerge if it is to be taken seriously. All organisations must grow and renew over time. The renewal of the PNP must start at the top and work its way right down. And the time to do it is now.
In the best interest of the party and the country, there should be no fear to do the right thing and challenge Portia Simpson Miller, whose time has long past. The PNP’s leadership must be challenged, and the party needs to take some time to completely reorganise and overhaul itself if it is to emerge once again as a party that is reputable and can function effectively as Opposition, and become a viable option to form a Government.
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com