Golding urges patience, realism in expectations of new PM

Outgoing prime minister, Bruce Golding, last night extended to his successor, Andrew Holness, a ringing endorsement of the young politician's ability as he prepares to take on the mantle of leadership today.

At the same time, Golding soberly warned Jamaicans that their expectations of Holness, Jamaica's ninth prime minister, must be tempered with realism and patience.

"He will become one of the youngest heads of government in the entire world," Golding said in a broadcast to the nation last night. "His youthfulness, however, belies the tremendous ability he brings to the job as demonstrated in the transformational leadership he has shown as the minister of education."

Golding expressed confidence that the 39-year-old, who will be sworn in today at King's House, has a clear vision of Jamaica. " … A vision that stretches beyond the next election, beyond many elections," he declared. "He deserves the support of all Jamaicans in the formidable tasks on which he is now embarked."

Seamless transition

Golding characterised as "remarkable and virtually seamless" the transition of leadership, with the majority parliamentary group and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) having coalesced behind Holness as the choice to lead the country. " … so much so that it has been possible to bring forward, by four weeks, the formal handing over of office," Golding told Jamaicans.

He admitted that he was leaving the top job with strong emotions.

He said he was humbled and honoured that he was allowed the opportunity to lead Jamaica during some of the most difficult times a government has had to face.

Golding asserted that he was satisfied that his administration had put in place the foundation on which the country now would have a chance to achieve economic growth and development.

"I am proud of the progress we have made in reforming our structures of governance, even as I regret that despite the considerable work that has been done, there are still critical reform initiatives to be fully implemented," said Golding. "I have made one request of Andrew, and that is that he does everything possible to complete the reform programme, which is a commitment we made to the people of Jamaica during the last elections."

Great expectations

Golding told the nation that the emergence of a new leader brings with it new hope and great expectations. "That hope must be used to inspire us to a renewed effort by each of us, every single Jamaican, to do our part in building this nation, in overcoming the many challenges that confront us," he asserted.

"No government, whether led by me, Andrew, or anyone else, can do it alone," he stressed. "Our chances of success lie in our ability to set aside our differences, to find unity despite our diversity, and to coalesce behind a common set of objectives and the strategies to achieve them."

Golding argued that while the existing competitive political process does not encourage the quest for unity, he was confident that it could, and must be made to facilitate it. "Vested interests must be submerged into the common interest so that we can move forward, in single formation, with a single purpose, to make Jamaica a better place for all of us to live," declared the man who served as prime minister from 2007.