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As the nation continues to digest news that former finance minister Dr Omar Davies has been shifted from that portfolio in the Opposition's shadow cabinet, a secret United States diplomatic cable is claiming that he had threatened to resign from the Portia Simpson Miller administration shortly after he was appointed by the then new prime minister.
The cable, dated July 18, 2006, said Davies wanted to leave the Cabinet because he was at odds with Simpson Miller over spending.
According to the cable, then foreign affairs minister Anthony Hylton, a known Simpson Miller confidant, was among those who convinced Davies to stay on board for fear that it could impact party unity which had just emerged from a bruising leadership contest to replace PJ Patterson.
The cable alleges that Simpson Miller wanted to tap into the National Insurance Fund to finance job creation projects and Davies threatened to resign in protest.
"On that occasion, PSM (Portia Simpson Miller) backed down; whether she would do so after having won the elections is open to question," the cable said.
It added: "Davies almost certainly would leave finance rather than blemish his excellent record as minister."
Possible replacements
Peter Bunting, who was in the private sector, and a prominent business leader with no public connection to the PNP, were profiled by the US Embassy as possible replacements for Davies.
"(The private sector leader) is a former socialist who has been 'born again'," the cable claimed.
It also noted his academic and working background and said, "most think that he has the technical expertise to run the ministry in the Davies mold - running large primary surpluses as a way to reduce the country's crippling debt problem".
Of Bunting, the cable said: "He has been a staunch supporter of Davies for many years, and the PNP has always been a party that rewards loyalty."
"Nevertheless, he (Bunting) is less well regarded because (the private sector leader) has the stronger academic background, and is closer to Prime Minister Simpson Miller," added the cable.
But with general elections looming in Jamaica at that time, the US argued that: "Spending is almost certain to increase as a result of impending elections, as well as Simpson Miller's natural propensity towards assisting the poor."
"It seems that Davies wishes to ensure that careful work he has done over the past decade to bring down the debt-GDP ratio, and to improve Jamaica's standing with the international financial community is not threatened after he steps down," the cable continued.
Meanwhile, in a later cable dated January, 2007, the US Embassy said Simpson Miller had done "a masterful job of mending fences and healing wounds within the People's National Party", after she won the bruising presidential contest. The cable, however, implied that Simposn Miller might be as a reckless spender who needs a Davies to keep her on the rails.
"Given her populist instincts and carefully cultivated image as a woman of the people, many observers believe that, had Davies not remained finance minister, PMS (Portia Simpson Miller) would not have exercised the kind of fiscal restraint the Government has managed thus far," the cable said.
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The cable, dated July 18, 2006, said Davies wanted to leave the Cabinet because he was at odds with Simpson Miller over spending.
According to the cable, then foreign affairs minister Anthony Hylton, a known Simpson Miller confidant, was among those who convinced Davies to stay on board for fear that it could impact party unity which had just emerged from a bruising leadership contest to replace PJ Patterson.
The cable alleges that Simpson Miller wanted to tap into the National Insurance Fund to finance job creation projects and Davies threatened to resign in protest.
"On that occasion, PSM (Portia Simpson Miller) backed down; whether she would do so after having won the elections is open to question," the cable said.
It added: "Davies almost certainly would leave finance rather than blemish his excellent record as minister."
Possible replacements
Peter Bunting, who was in the private sector, and a prominent business leader with no public connection to the PNP, were profiled by the US Embassy as possible replacements for Davies.
"(The private sector leader) is a former socialist who has been 'born again'," the cable claimed.
It also noted his academic and working background and said, "most think that he has the technical expertise to run the ministry in the Davies mold - running large primary surpluses as a way to reduce the country's crippling debt problem".
Of Bunting, the cable said: "He has been a staunch supporter of Davies for many years, and the PNP has always been a party that rewards loyalty."
"Nevertheless, he (Bunting) is less well regarded because (the private sector leader) has the stronger academic background, and is closer to Prime Minister Simpson Miller," added the cable.
But with general elections looming in Jamaica at that time, the US argued that: "Spending is almost certain to increase as a result of impending elections, as well as Simpson Miller's natural propensity towards assisting the poor."
"It seems that Davies wishes to ensure that careful work he has done over the past decade to bring down the debt-GDP ratio, and to improve Jamaica's standing with the international financial community is not threatened after he steps down," the cable continued.
Meanwhile, in a later cable dated January, 2007, the US Embassy said Simpson Miller had done "a masterful job of mending fences and healing wounds within the People's National Party", after she won the bruising presidential contest. The cable, however, implied that Simposn Miller might be as a reckless spender who needs a Davies to keep her on the rails.
"Given her populist instincts and carefully cultivated image as a woman of the people, many observers believe that, had Davies not remained finance minister, PMS (Portia Simpson Miller) would not have exercised the kind of fiscal restraint the Government has managed thus far," the cable said.
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