Curtis Ward | Expectations and reality, Mark Golding’s biggest test

One of the most difficult speeches for a Jamaican politician is the speech of the political parties’ leaders at their respective annual conferences. This year’s conferences, perhaps the last for either party leader before the next general election is called, is more of a challenge to the leader of Opposition and People’s National Party (PNP) president than it is to the prime minister and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) president.

The Opposition leader was expected to offer credible solutions to the most pressing problems facing the country. And he had to assure the people that he had a capable team to execute his plan. His speech was not merely to fire-up party supporters, but to convince the electorate which of the two political parties offers the best choice to rescue Jamaica from its current unsustainable situation.

Several critical issues demand urgent solutions – citizens safety and security, widespread economic hardships, high cost of living, lack of high-wage jobs, under-resourced and chaotic education system and unequal access to good and affordable education, a crisis of access to affordable housing, and failed healthcare services, are a few of the failures evident in government policy over several years. Have the people abandoned those now unattainable aspirations and promises of the 2030 vision?

Society’s continued decline must be reversed. The people will judge which of the two political parties and their leadership offers the best credible answers to the problems. Ideally, there is the notion that good government is rewarded, and bad governance held accountable.

DO MORE

The current government must do more than to merely brush aside the Opposition’s criticisms as political. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has sole opportunity to take or attempt corrective measures before he calls the next general election. Advantage, seemingly, favours the governing party.

But the prime minister and his team will have to show the public that all the issues raised by the Opposition leader have the full attention of the government and explain remedial action. Immediate solutions must be sustainable. Should he be trusted if there is a record of failure, or as some surmise, incompetence?

The prime minister will announce new programmes to fix the problems, and stage photo-ops of shovel-ready projects. But he will have to prove credibility and capability to a sceptical public. Because of his credibility and competence having been questioned in the past, the electorate are unlikely to trust him now. It’s not what he says he has done or will do; it is what the facts prove. The bar is high.

Mr. Mark Golding will continue to not only expose the failings of the government, but will continue to explain details of his plans and justify the ability of the PNP to lead the country. He must offer a government of transparency and good governance; a plan to cauterize corruption; and show how those he puts in positions of trust will be held accountable for betrayal of the people’s interests.

Mr. Golding offered the outlines of his party’s plan in his speech at the PNP conference which was not intended just for party faithful but for all the people of Jamaica. He told the country he has a credible plan, and he has a capable team to execute it in the interests of all Jamaica. He pledged transparency, good governance and accountability.

BURDEN OF PROOF

Unquestionably, Mr. Golding bears the burden of proof to convince the Jamaican people that there should be a change in government and that his party is ready to lead. It is in that context that Mr. Golding’s speech at this time of Jamaica’s history must be evaluated. Did he meet the burden of credibility and practicability?

The prime minister as head of the governing party has access to government resources to target those priority areas highlighted by the Leader of Opposition that require immediate corrective measures or at least to set a new course to correct past mistakes and poor decisions. The government controls the priorities and the resources to apply to them. But the government does not control the trust of the people. That which is lost may not be easily regained. It is a high bar.

Did PNP president, Mark Golding, clear the bar for this most important message to the people of Jamaica at home and abroad? There were impressive speeches by some of the portfolio spokespersons which were of very high quality and resonance. The roll-out of the men and women candidates – a new generation of young qualified leaders and political warriors – was quite impressive. The women’s tribute to former prime minister Portia Simpson-Miller and citing her dedication to uplifting the marginalised in the society as inspiration for their own mission to represent the people set the right tone.

Mr. Golding himself was brave as he was humble in how he presented himself to the Jamaican people. He reminded the people of the PNP’s history of social transformation and of setting Jamaica on the path to development through infrastructure and economic restructuring. He demonstrated that he has the policies and quality personnel with the requisite capabilities to take Jamaica to the next level and that his plan will do for Jamaica what the current government of Jamaica has failed to do.

Did Mr. Golding meet the burden of credibility and practicability? Yes! Now for the people to decide. But the game isn’t over. PM Holness has the advantage of government resources on his side of the ledger.

Curtis Ward is former ambassador of Jamaica to the United Nations, with special responsibility for security council affairs. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com