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The Newsletter's Editorial - Surprise!
The PNP and the audacity of hopelessness
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Times was when the People's National Party (PNP) had a virtual monopoly on words such as "nationalism", "patriotism" and "patrimony", among other noble notions of the greatness of the Jamaican people and nation.
Alas! Something seems to have gone terribly wrong with today's PNP.
Dr Wykeham McNeill, the PNP's spokesman on tourism, would most likely not have found room in a cabinet or shadow cabinet formed by the party of Norman Manley or his son Michael Manley. The undeniable proof lies in the statement issued at the weekend by Dr McNeill.
The manner in which the Opposition spokesman expressed concern over allegations that Spanish investors felt that the investment climate in Jamaica had become hostile towards them and that at least two had pulled out of Jamaica, betrayed Mr McNeill's lack of qualification to represent his party or the people of Jamaica.
In the first place, he allowed himself to be hoodwinked by a completely baseless story which had nothing to substantiate such a claim made by an unnamed "highly placed source" as carried by The Gleaner.
The newspaper report gave no examples of what was described as hostile investment climate, and moreover, the claim that any Spanish investor had pulled out of Jamaica was denied by the Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett in Parliament.
But Mr McNeill, not caring that he had no supporting facts on his side, was quick to trumpet that the ill-fated report "conflicts with the Government's claim of being 'investment friendly' and (he) is therefore calling on the prime minister to state clearly what action is being taken to counter this damaging perception".
It got worse: "...Given the importance of investment to the creation of jobs and economic activity this is troubling as it may affect the hopes of thousands of Jamaicans who look to the tourism industry as a source of employment".
Beyond the obvious political expediency, the awful lesson in that is: as long as anyone brings jobs and money, it is okay to flout our laws.
While grasping at the political straw that he thought he had seen, Dr McNeill showed scant regard for the well-being of the Jamaican people, preferring to 'hug up' an investor who had breached all sorts of environmental and building rules meant to protect Jamaicans.
Today's news that RIU Hotel has relented and is demolishing the illegally constructed fourth floors on three of its buildings at Mahoe Bay near Montego Bay, St James - which are in the flight path to the Sangster International Airport - should cause Mr McNeill to think long and hard, about how he was willing to sell out Jamaica so cheaply.
Left to the PNP shadow minister of tourism, those fourth floors would have remained in place, forever a monument to 'licky-licky' and a danger to all who fly into or out of Sangster Airport, whether now or in the future.
Interestingly, Mr McNeill is yet to comment publicly on the travesty wrought by RIU Ocho Rios Hotel at Mammee Bay, St Ann. Not that we expect him to say anything but express support for the investor.
It is to this sad pass that the PNP has come. If Dr McNeill represents the future of this once great party, he also represents the audacity of hopelessness.
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It may be just me...but I care not if the posts are broken up in sentences or paragraphs...just made easy to read!
Thank you, all!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Times was when the People's National Party (PNP) had a virtual monopoly on words such as "nationalism", "patriotism" and "patrimony", among other noble notions of the greatness of the Jamaican people and nation.
Alas! Something seems to have gone terribly wrong with today's PNP.
Dr Wykeham McNeill, the PNP's spokesman on tourism, would most likely not have found room in a cabinet or shadow cabinet formed by the party of Norman Manley or his son Michael Manley. The undeniable proof lies in the statement issued at the weekend by Dr McNeill.
The manner in which the Opposition spokesman expressed concern over allegations that Spanish investors felt that the investment climate in Jamaica had become hostile towards them and that at least two had pulled out of Jamaica, betrayed Mr McNeill's lack of qualification to represent his party or the people of Jamaica.
In the first place, he allowed himself to be hoodwinked by a completely baseless story which had nothing to substantiate such a claim made by an unnamed "highly placed source" as carried by The Gleaner.
The newspaper report gave no examples of what was described as hostile investment climate, and moreover, the claim that any Spanish investor had pulled out of Jamaica was denied by the Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett in Parliament.
But Mr McNeill, not caring that he had no supporting facts on his side, was quick to trumpet that the ill-fated report "conflicts with the Government's claim of being 'investment friendly' and (he) is therefore calling on the prime minister to state clearly what action is being taken to counter this damaging perception".
It got worse: "...Given the importance of investment to the creation of jobs and economic activity this is troubling as it may affect the hopes of thousands of Jamaicans who look to the tourism industry as a source of employment".
Beyond the obvious political expediency, the awful lesson in that is: as long as anyone brings jobs and money, it is okay to flout our laws.
While grasping at the political straw that he thought he had seen, Dr McNeill showed scant regard for the well-being of the Jamaican people, preferring to 'hug up' an investor who had breached all sorts of environmental and building rules meant to protect Jamaicans.
Today's news that RIU Hotel has relented and is demolishing the illegally constructed fourth floors on three of its buildings at Mahoe Bay near Montego Bay, St James - which are in the flight path to the Sangster International Airport - should cause Mr McNeill to think long and hard, about how he was willing to sell out Jamaica so cheaply.
Left to the PNP shadow minister of tourism, those fourth floors would have remained in place, forever a monument to 'licky-licky' and a danger to all who fly into or out of Sangster Airport, whether now or in the future.
Interestingly, Mr McNeill is yet to comment publicly on the travesty wrought by RIU Ocho Rios Hotel at Mammee Bay, St Ann. Not that we expect him to say anything but express support for the investor.
It is to this sad pass that the PNP has come. If Dr McNeill represents the future of this once great party, he also represents the audacity of hopelessness.
-----
It may be just me...but I care not if the posts are broken up in sentences or paragraphs...just made easy to read!
Thank you, all!
