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published: Saturday | August 25, 2007
The Editor, Sir:
The three-ring circus that the Government of Jamaica has become as a result of the necessary postponement of the general election is not something that any of us can complain about. It serves us right.
I hear the usual round of mealy- mouthed do-gooders calling themselves human rights organisations making the same tired old sounds of disapproval, but where were they when the problem was being created as the PNP was permitted to subvert the Constitution of Jamaica by appointing a prime minister who did not enjoy the support of a majority of her own MPs?
Where was the Farquarson Institute, where were Jamaicans for Justice for Some; where was the Very Dependent Council for Human Rights; where was the Jamaican Bar Association when a prime minister of Jamaica was permitted to resign as leader of his party rather than as prime minister?
By this subterfuge, he was able to manipulate the Constitution of Jamaica to ensure that PNP delegates, rather than duly elected representatives of the people, would select the next prime minister.
And what on earth did we expect to be the result of our taking a chance that someone would be chosen by the delegates who failed to qualify as prime minister under the Constitution? Now we have what we asked for, namely, a prime minister who cannot hold her party together and who does not command the respect and support of her own Cabinet members. We allowed this to happen without a peep from anyone in protest and now we are shocked and amazed that we are now being presented with a rudderless, leaderless, motley crew of churlish juveniles.
Well, at least one good thing has come of all this. Surely, even the Prime Minister now realises that hurricanes can cause electoral confusion whether the election date is fixed or a figment of the Prime Minister's imagination.
Unless, of course, the fixed election date comes with a tighter legislative framework for postponement in case of natural disaster than the current method of arbitrary fixture by any Tom, Dick or Lucretia able to contrive their way into Jamaica House.
I am, etc.,
GORDON ROBINSON
robinson@cwjamaica.com
69 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10
Via Go-Jamaica
The Editor, Sir:
The three-ring circus that the Government of Jamaica has become as a result of the necessary postponement of the general election is not something that any of us can complain about. It serves us right.
I hear the usual round of mealy- mouthed do-gooders calling themselves human rights organisations making the same tired old sounds of disapproval, but where were they when the problem was being created as the PNP was permitted to subvert the Constitution of Jamaica by appointing a prime minister who did not enjoy the support of a majority of her own MPs?
Where was the Farquarson Institute, where were Jamaicans for Justice for Some; where was the Very Dependent Council for Human Rights; where was the Jamaican Bar Association when a prime minister of Jamaica was permitted to resign as leader of his party rather than as prime minister?
By this subterfuge, he was able to manipulate the Constitution of Jamaica to ensure that PNP delegates, rather than duly elected representatives of the people, would select the next prime minister.
And what on earth did we expect to be the result of our taking a chance that someone would be chosen by the delegates who failed to qualify as prime minister under the Constitution? Now we have what we asked for, namely, a prime minister who cannot hold her party together and who does not command the respect and support of her own Cabinet members. We allowed this to happen without a peep from anyone in protest and now we are shocked and amazed that we are now being presented with a rudderless, leaderless, motley crew of churlish juveniles.
Well, at least one good thing has come of all this. Surely, even the Prime Minister now realises that hurricanes can cause electoral confusion whether the election date is fixed or a figment of the Prime Minister's imagination.
Unless, of course, the fixed election date comes with a tighter legislative framework for postponement in case of natural disaster than the current method of arbitrary fixture by any Tom, Dick or Lucretia able to contrive their way into Jamaica House.
I am, etc.,
GORDON ROBINSON
robinson@cwjamaica.com
69 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10
Via Go-Jamaica
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