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'No Nightmares' - JLP promises responsible but strong Opposition
BY INGRID BROWN Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, January 14, 2012
OPPOSITION Leader Andrew Holness says the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will not be bringing any 'nightmares' on the People's National Party (PNP) Government, but promises to be a strong, responsible and effective Opposition.
Holness said, too, that the Opposition will ensure that policies started under his administration are continued for the benefit of the country.
Opposition Leader Andrew Holness addresses journalists at a press conference yesterday at the headquarters of the Jamaica Labour Party on Belmont Road in Kingston. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
"... So you will see not an Opposition declaring to be nightmares, but an Opposition that is working steadily to achieve the Jamaican dream that we all want to achieve," Holness told journalists at a press conference at the JLP's headquarters in Kingston yesterday.
The statement by the head of the parliamentary Opposition was in obvious reference to that made by the then Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller who, on the night of the PNP's loss to the JLP in the 2007 general election, declared that the PNP would be Government's "worst nightmare".
Holness, who was making his first public presentation as opposition leader since his party's defeat in the December 29, 2011 general election, said being a responsible and effective Opposition would again be the only way that the electorate would find the JLP suitable for Government. "And we hope that this will happen very quickly," he added.
The JLP has also spent the past few weeks analysing the reasons for its crushing 42-21 seat election defeat by the PNP. There has been significant time spent in introspection, Holness said. He explained that consultation with candidates, delegates and senior functionaries of the JLP have helped in the analysis.
The consultative meetings will continue tomorrow when Holness is expected to meet with all candidates, the major functionaries and their affiliates to, among other things, gain approval for the establishment of a broad-based committee to review the elections and the party's future.
"We have some ideas and views but we would want to engage a scientific process of narrowing those down in a document which would inform restructuring of the party," Holness told reporters.
The party's general secretary, Aundre Franklin, will present a report at the meeting, while constituency chairmen will be given a chance to share their views on the election and make suggestions for the way forward, while the party leader will give a charge and share a vision for the party.
Preliminary consultations, Holness told the media, have revealed that the electorate had certain concerns about the party and its style of governance, and as such the party would be moving with haste to correct these.
Holness, who took over leadership of the JLP following the resignation of his predecessor Bruce Golding in October last year, said the JLP will be looking at itself critically and invited the wider society to do the same.
"We would want to invite not just party members but the wider society to look at the Jamaica Labour Party and help us to become the party that the country will elect once again," Holness said. The JLP, he added, would be opening up itself to the society and working to rebuild the institution of the party to make it a strong, robust organisation.
The opposition leader also addressed what some people have attributed as one of the major causes for the defeat -- the issue of arrogance.
"The question is always raised about arrogance of the Government. I want it to be clearly understood that the present Government also had its own spate of arrogance and in new political dispensation I believe that all politicians must realise that they must serve the people with humility, and that the people are the ultimate force and ultimate power to reckon with," Holness said. This is a lesson that the JLP will internalise in its position and posture, he promised.
"And I intend to lead that charge to make sure the people of Jamaica see that we are absolutely respectful of the power of the people and democracy of the country," said the party leader.
Holness said the party also had a challenge in dealing with the media and a first order of business for him would be to put in place a media management unit, the head of which will be announced soon.
"We will be consulting with the media and professionals, bringing people within the party to develop our protocol for dealing with the media," he explained, adding that the party also intended to conduct training for its members.
And as the party seeks to rebuild itself, Holness said there has been a swell of persons wanting to help and participate in the process with a significant increase in the number of membership applications. "So we have a base, our spirit is still strong and we will rebuild this great party and we will once again serve the people of Jamaica as the Government of Jamaica."
Meanwhile, Holness said he will be announcing the names of the eight Opposition senators on Monday and the shadow Cabinet shortly thereafter. The senators and the shadow Cabinet, he said, will meet every Monday as if it were the cabinet of the country to discuss policies, take positions and make those public.
"We are ready for Parliament on Tuesday and want the country to be assured you will have a strong Opposition, a constructive Opposition, and one that will be a watchdog of democracy," he said. "We will not oppose for opposing sake."
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1jRIc9sgx
BY INGRID BROWN Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, January 14, 2012
OPPOSITION Leader Andrew Holness says the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will not be bringing any 'nightmares' on the People's National Party (PNP) Government, but promises to be a strong, responsible and effective Opposition.
Holness said, too, that the Opposition will ensure that policies started under his administration are continued for the benefit of the country.
Opposition Leader Andrew Holness addresses journalists at a press conference yesterday at the headquarters of the Jamaica Labour Party on Belmont Road in Kingston. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
"... So you will see not an Opposition declaring to be nightmares, but an Opposition that is working steadily to achieve the Jamaican dream that we all want to achieve," Holness told journalists at a press conference at the JLP's headquarters in Kingston yesterday.
The statement by the head of the parliamentary Opposition was in obvious reference to that made by the then Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller who, on the night of the PNP's loss to the JLP in the 2007 general election, declared that the PNP would be Government's "worst nightmare".
Holness, who was making his first public presentation as opposition leader since his party's defeat in the December 29, 2011 general election, said being a responsible and effective Opposition would again be the only way that the electorate would find the JLP suitable for Government. "And we hope that this will happen very quickly," he added.
The JLP has also spent the past few weeks analysing the reasons for its crushing 42-21 seat election defeat by the PNP. There has been significant time spent in introspection, Holness said. He explained that consultation with candidates, delegates and senior functionaries of the JLP have helped in the analysis.
The consultative meetings will continue tomorrow when Holness is expected to meet with all candidates, the major functionaries and their affiliates to, among other things, gain approval for the establishment of a broad-based committee to review the elections and the party's future.
"We have some ideas and views but we would want to engage a scientific process of narrowing those down in a document which would inform restructuring of the party," Holness told reporters.
The party's general secretary, Aundre Franklin, will present a report at the meeting, while constituency chairmen will be given a chance to share their views on the election and make suggestions for the way forward, while the party leader will give a charge and share a vision for the party.
Preliminary consultations, Holness told the media, have revealed that the electorate had certain concerns about the party and its style of governance, and as such the party would be moving with haste to correct these.
Holness, who took over leadership of the JLP following the resignation of his predecessor Bruce Golding in October last year, said the JLP will be looking at itself critically and invited the wider society to do the same.
"We would want to invite not just party members but the wider society to look at the Jamaica Labour Party and help us to become the party that the country will elect once again," Holness said. The JLP, he added, would be opening up itself to the society and working to rebuild the institution of the party to make it a strong, robust organisation.
The opposition leader also addressed what some people have attributed as one of the major causes for the defeat -- the issue of arrogance.
"The question is always raised about arrogance of the Government. I want it to be clearly understood that the present Government also had its own spate of arrogance and in new political dispensation I believe that all politicians must realise that they must serve the people with humility, and that the people are the ultimate force and ultimate power to reckon with," Holness said. This is a lesson that the JLP will internalise in its position and posture, he promised.
"And I intend to lead that charge to make sure the people of Jamaica see that we are absolutely respectful of the power of the people and democracy of the country," said the party leader.
Holness said the party also had a challenge in dealing with the media and a first order of business for him would be to put in place a media management unit, the head of which will be announced soon.
"We will be consulting with the media and professionals, bringing people within the party to develop our protocol for dealing with the media," he explained, adding that the party also intended to conduct training for its members.
And as the party seeks to rebuild itself, Holness said there has been a swell of persons wanting to help and participate in the process with a significant increase in the number of membership applications. "So we have a base, our spirit is still strong and we will rebuild this great party and we will once again serve the people of Jamaica as the Government of Jamaica."
Meanwhile, Holness said he will be announcing the names of the eight Opposition senators on Monday and the shadow Cabinet shortly thereafter. The senators and the shadow Cabinet, he said, will meet every Monday as if it were the cabinet of the country to discuss policies, take positions and make those public.
"We are ready for Parliament on Tuesday and want the country to be assured you will have a strong Opposition, a constructive Opposition, and one that will be a watchdog of democracy," he said. "We will not oppose for opposing sake."
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1jRIc9sgx