Mark Wignall | Seems it’s more likely the PNP doing the shuffling

I do not take public transport. That covers the caveat I attach to my expertise, or the very lack of it, in commenting on national transport matters. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) minister in charge of transport, Daryl Vaz, is, to me, the best man for the job at this time.

Recently, public transport fees were increased in two phases. According to Opposition Leader Mark Golding, fare increases were warranted but he wanted the government to cushion the cost to the public. That is the typical People’s National Party (PNP) approach in trying to live on both sides of the argument, especially if they sense that there are two distinct constituents to appeal to.

In response, Minister Vaz shockingly announced that the Opposition was consulted on the matter and no objection was raised. Now I am going to apportion some blame to both sides. First, to Minister Vaz. So, you have consulted with the PNP in a very informal way. It had to be so, otherwise the minister would stick a document in front of the PNP GenSec and say, “Sign this. Your agreement. Just in case.” So that was not done.

The opposition PNP knows that the transport ministry is like one of those lightning bolt ministries such as Security, Education, Health that the public always wants to see more of a joined-up, two-party approach, instead of using it as political scrimmage. So PNP President Mark Golding, that one is not going stick to the wall.

Don’t get me wrong, sir. No-one here is trying to deprive you of your right to throw political stew peas against the wall. Feel free to throw the stuff. You may just get lucky one day. Right after an election. Some may stick, when it is least needed.

TOO MUCH MANUAL LABOUR

A reader emailed me,”I read the PM was proudly touting that a certain road project had an overwhelming majority of Jamaicans working on the project (the project is run by the Chinese). But what the PM did not reveal is how many Jamaicans held management and skilled positions, such as engineers.

“I have no doubt they are doing manual labour. Too many jobs in Jamaica call for manual labour. There needs to be employment offered for engineers, scientists, accountants, nurses. But then again, Jamaica has too few of those skilled workers available because they have migrated due to a lack of opportunities and of course crime. Meaningful job creation is vital.”

There is another side to this. About a year ago when Chinese contractors were building the plaza on Red Hills Road in front of Calabar High School, for about three days during a time when the main building was about 90 per cent finished, a Chinese man was doing cement work on a section of the long wall by the road. Usually in a Chinese contracted project, it would be a Jamaican labourer doing finishing cement work on the wall.

Could it be that the Jamaican was offered the job but he priced himself out of the job, with the Chinese man saying to him, ‘Is OK. Is OK. Me can do work for less money.’?

Investing in Jamaica has too many roadblocks. Payoffs to get things done, extortion, crime and an unskilled workforce. A lethargic and out-of-touch bureaucracy.

The reader writes, “’What is the current government doing with the good credit rating and fiscal prudence ( revenue coffers full). The people need more from the government. Where are the creative ideas, where is the leadership. Do you want to progress or not?”

PNP KICKING OVER THE MILK PAIL

About a year ago, there was more political disgust occupying the street corners than is there now. The people at street level are not necessarily bubbling over with joy but, politically, the hostility that was aimed at the ruling JLP, directly and in scattershot style, is not there to the same degree.

“The PNP continues to turn victory into defeat,” said a friend of mine, a political scientist. “My political sentiments have historically been aligned with the PNP’s core mission. But too much of what the PNP has been using as its political messaging is, ‘not what the other party is doing’.’’

Not only that, but the opposition PNP has been boxed in by the great messaging on the economy and Jamaica’s fiscal prudence. Political judgement is mainly driven by an emotional feel good on many matters in the country. The odd one out is crime. Unfortunately for the opposition PNP, I have not sensed that the PNP is judged more harshly on crime-fighting ability than the ruling JLP.

If many more people among those who intend to vote in the next elections believe that the economy is on the right track, and it is more likely than not that people like them stand to benefit, the PNP is likely to be left out in the cold while the JLP gets the warm embraces.

The JLP leader, that is, the prime minister of Jamaica and his cabinet, may be of the view that many of our people care little about the Integrity Commission and its interface with Mr Holness. Therefore, such matters need little consideration and ought not be worth more than a soft cough in the wind.

And, if the times bring electorally favourable breezes to the JLP, there will be no real need for ethical prudence (politically) to be exercised. In other words, if one is among many on a battlefield of death and the exhausted doctor comes around, can barely hear the faint breath in you but, nevertheless, pronounces you dead, your only move is to lie down and die.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.