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Shame on Portia
published: Wednesday | June 6, 2007
Delroy Chuck
On the campaign trail, the Most Honourable Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's behaviour, to put it charitably, has been unbecoming. Her unseemly tirade puts journalists everywhere at risk. Media houses now have to count how many minutes, and space, it gives to the PNP and to the JLP in their coverage of the general election campaign.
When Portia complains that the TV cameras focus on her instead of her big crowds, she is disgracefully demanding that the media do her party's public relations, instead of acting professionally. The problem with Portia and similar populist leaders is that they want everyone to fall in line with whatever suits them well. Charismatic leaders believe they must be deified, worshipped and revered, and never criticised, which is why the media is under attack in countries such as Venezuela, Guyana, Zimbabwe, and many others. Interestingly, both TV stations have succumbed to Portia's demands and, on Monday's newscasts, showed extensive coverage of Portia's meetings and not a minute of any of the dozen or more JLP meetings - but it is their right and professional judgment.
Crowds do not win elections. Our people, definitely those under 30, will not remember the huge crowds Michael Manley had at the PNP meetings in the run-up to the 1980 general election. In Sam Sharpe Square, with the most massive crowd ever seen, he declared 150,000 cannot be wrong, as he announced the election date. Well, the PNP duly lost by 150,000 votes. In 2002, the JLP had bigger crowds than the PNP but failed to win the general election.
When people criticised Joan Gordon-Webley's style, what would they say about Portia's? They complain that Joan's utterances are reminders of the seventies but Portia's are significantly worse. In Annotto Bay, Portia embraced and promoted the divisive and abrasive class warfare when she complained that they, whoever they may be, did not want her in Jamaica House. She is in Jamaica House, so who did not want her there? Is it Omar Davies, Peter Phillips and their rich supporters who fought to keep her out?
Should be ashamed
Portia should really be ashamed for promising that roads will be a priority if she wins the next election. What about making it a priority now? Portia and the PNP are behaving as if they are in Opposition and waiting for a mandate to govern and satisfy the needs and concerns of the people.
After 18 long years of PNP government, the people are tired of their broken promises, priorities and so-called progress. If the PNP government cannot find the money to fix roads, transform education, provide decent health care, and pay teachers, nurses, police and civil servants decently, why should anyone believe it can ever find new resources or new lending sources?
Cannot distance themselves
Portia should be ashamed of distancing herself from the 18 years of the PNP government of which she was an integral part. Portia and her sidekicks cannot distance themselves from the PNP's economic policies that shifted wealth from the poor to the rich or the crime fighting strategies that failed dismally and created more injustices and state irregularities than this country has ever seen. Where was Portia's voice when billions were being borrowed or innocent Jamaicans were being slaughtered in Tivoli? How does she explain that parts of her constituency do not have running water when everywhere else in Kingston and St. Andrew does? How does Portia explain that the poorest of the poor in her constituency live in the most abysmal and uninhabitable conditions after 26 years of parliamentary representation?
Portia should remember, as Bruce certainly does, that when the next election is over, we have to live and unite as one. Certainly, Jamaica needs a leader who speaks rationally forJamaica and not fanatically for one party, a leader that can unite, ignite and inspire Jamaicans to peace, progress and prosperity.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted at delchuck@hotmail.com.
published: Wednesday | June 6, 2007
Delroy Chuck
On the campaign trail, the Most Honourable Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's behaviour, to put it charitably, has been unbecoming. Her unseemly tirade puts journalists everywhere at risk. Media houses now have to count how many minutes, and space, it gives to the PNP and to the JLP in their coverage of the general election campaign.
When Portia complains that the TV cameras focus on her instead of her big crowds, she is disgracefully demanding that the media do her party's public relations, instead of acting professionally. The problem with Portia and similar populist leaders is that they want everyone to fall in line with whatever suits them well. Charismatic leaders believe they must be deified, worshipped and revered, and never criticised, which is why the media is under attack in countries such as Venezuela, Guyana, Zimbabwe, and many others. Interestingly, both TV stations have succumbed to Portia's demands and, on Monday's newscasts, showed extensive coverage of Portia's meetings and not a minute of any of the dozen or more JLP meetings - but it is their right and professional judgment.
Crowds do not win elections. Our people, definitely those under 30, will not remember the huge crowds Michael Manley had at the PNP meetings in the run-up to the 1980 general election. In Sam Sharpe Square, with the most massive crowd ever seen, he declared 150,000 cannot be wrong, as he announced the election date. Well, the PNP duly lost by 150,000 votes. In 2002, the JLP had bigger crowds than the PNP but failed to win the general election.
When people criticised Joan Gordon-Webley's style, what would they say about Portia's? They complain that Joan's utterances are reminders of the seventies but Portia's are significantly worse. In Annotto Bay, Portia embraced and promoted the divisive and abrasive class warfare when she complained that they, whoever they may be, did not want her in Jamaica House. She is in Jamaica House, so who did not want her there? Is it Omar Davies, Peter Phillips and their rich supporters who fought to keep her out?
Should be ashamed
Portia should really be ashamed for promising that roads will be a priority if she wins the next election. What about making it a priority now? Portia and the PNP are behaving as if they are in Opposition and waiting for a mandate to govern and satisfy the needs and concerns of the people.
After 18 long years of PNP government, the people are tired of their broken promises, priorities and so-called progress. If the PNP government cannot find the money to fix roads, transform education, provide decent health care, and pay teachers, nurses, police and civil servants decently, why should anyone believe it can ever find new resources or new lending sources?
Cannot distance themselves
Portia should be ashamed of distancing herself from the 18 years of the PNP government of which she was an integral part. Portia and her sidekicks cannot distance themselves from the PNP's economic policies that shifted wealth from the poor to the rich or the crime fighting strategies that failed dismally and created more injustices and state irregularities than this country has ever seen. Where was Portia's voice when billions were being borrowed or innocent Jamaicans were being slaughtered in Tivoli? How does she explain that parts of her constituency do not have running water when everywhere else in Kingston and St. Andrew does? How does Portia explain that the poorest of the poor in her constituency live in the most abysmal and uninhabitable conditions after 26 years of parliamentary representation?
Portia should remember, as Bruce certainly does, that when the next election is over, we have to live and unite as one. Certainly, Jamaica needs a leader who speaks rationally forJamaica and not fanatically for one party, a leader that can unite, ignite and inspire Jamaicans to peace, progress and prosperity.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted at delchuck@hotmail.com.