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Mr Holness can learn from Mrs Simpson Miller
Thursday, November 14, 2013
WE gave our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Andrew Holness in this space on Monday for his victory in the first real leadership contest staged by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). And we note that the inevitable bloodletting that follows such fractious events has begun.
As part of the learning curve in its internal democracy, the JLP is now travelling a road on which it will gain valuable experience, if the approach is one of commitment to ideals, determination to succeed in entrenching democracy, and a philosophy of inclusiveness.
We suggest, in all good faith, that in this venture, the JLP can learn a lot from its older rival, the ruling People's National Party (PNP), which has a longer history of leadership elections, and which emerged from one of its most bruising contests in 2006 bleeding but strong enough to retake the reins of power from the JLP in relatively short order.
We suspect that, were Mr Holness to speak quietly with Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, he could receive worthwhile advice on how to apply the balm to heal the wounds that are now gaping in the JLP after Sundays elections and the announcement of the new shadow cabinet.
One of her biggest successes to date is the manner in which she reintegrated Dr Peter Phillips and his key supporters from failed challenges to her leadership. Mrs Simpson Miller, in our view, has not been given enough credit for achieving what is one of the most difficult things for human beings -- uniting around a common purpose after a down and dirty battle. She understood that Dr Phillips represented a significant constituency in the PNP, and it could not be enough to say that she had her mandate and need not worry about the loser.
Mr Holness, it must be understood, is still a very inexperienced leader, as borne out in the handling of his shadow cabinet appointments. Either that, or he is fallen under the influence of people who are still driven by the old ways and who only know how to win the war but lose the peace.
With 2,012 votes, Mr Shaw has proven that he commands a significant constituency in the JLP, and it is not wise to ignore that. Merely offering him back the shadow finance portfolio, while sidelining some of his key supporters, is putting him in an untenable position. What kind of leader would he be to abandon his flock after such a hard-fought campaign? In the case of Dr Christopher Tufton, it is not inconceivable that he could be dropped from the shadow cabinet, but moving to get rid of him from the Senate at this time could be seen as retribution.
Mr Holness might also want to consider that he has too many of the old political warriors around him now. He will have very little room to exhale and to become the transformational leader he wants to be seen as.
People like Messrs J C Hutchinson; Pearnel Charles; Derrick Smith; Karl Samuda; Desmond McKenzie; Dr Kenneth Baugh and Dr Horace Chang and Ms Olivia 'Babsie' Grange have served their time but can't very well be expected to bring new and different energy to the goverance process.
In other words, Mr Holness must, in earnest, begin the search for new blood to take the party and in turn the country to the new paradigm. Or he will remain nothing but a young wolf in old sheep's clothing.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...#ixzz2kdmokh1V
Thursday, November 14, 2013
WE gave our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Andrew Holness in this space on Monday for his victory in the first real leadership contest staged by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). And we note that the inevitable bloodletting that follows such fractious events has begun.
As part of the learning curve in its internal democracy, the JLP is now travelling a road on which it will gain valuable experience, if the approach is one of commitment to ideals, determination to succeed in entrenching democracy, and a philosophy of inclusiveness.
We suggest, in all good faith, that in this venture, the JLP can learn a lot from its older rival, the ruling People's National Party (PNP), which has a longer history of leadership elections, and which emerged from one of its most bruising contests in 2006 bleeding but strong enough to retake the reins of power from the JLP in relatively short order.
We suspect that, were Mr Holness to speak quietly with Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, he could receive worthwhile advice on how to apply the balm to heal the wounds that are now gaping in the JLP after Sundays elections and the announcement of the new shadow cabinet.
One of her biggest successes to date is the manner in which she reintegrated Dr Peter Phillips and his key supporters from failed challenges to her leadership. Mrs Simpson Miller, in our view, has not been given enough credit for achieving what is one of the most difficult things for human beings -- uniting around a common purpose after a down and dirty battle. She understood that Dr Phillips represented a significant constituency in the PNP, and it could not be enough to say that she had her mandate and need not worry about the loser.
Mr Holness, it must be understood, is still a very inexperienced leader, as borne out in the handling of his shadow cabinet appointments. Either that, or he is fallen under the influence of people who are still driven by the old ways and who only know how to win the war but lose the peace.
With 2,012 votes, Mr Shaw has proven that he commands a significant constituency in the JLP, and it is not wise to ignore that. Merely offering him back the shadow finance portfolio, while sidelining some of his key supporters, is putting him in an untenable position. What kind of leader would he be to abandon his flock after such a hard-fought campaign? In the case of Dr Christopher Tufton, it is not inconceivable that he could be dropped from the shadow cabinet, but moving to get rid of him from the Senate at this time could be seen as retribution.
Mr Holness might also want to consider that he has too many of the old political warriors around him now. He will have very little room to exhale and to become the transformational leader he wants to be seen as.
People like Messrs J C Hutchinson; Pearnel Charles; Derrick Smith; Karl Samuda; Desmond McKenzie; Dr Kenneth Baugh and Dr Horace Chang and Ms Olivia 'Babsie' Grange have served their time but can't very well be expected to bring new and different energy to the goverance process.
In other words, Mr Holness must, in earnest, begin the search for new blood to take the party and in turn the country to the new paradigm. Or he will remain nothing but a young wolf in old sheep's clothing.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...#ixzz2kdmokh1V
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