Members of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party have spent the best part of the last year, culminating with yesterday's showdown vote for leadership, squandering their time on self-indulgent intramural feuds.
The country faces a host of serious problems, many of which should be blamed on failures by the current Government.
The role of a responsible Opposition is to articulate choices and show how a coherent programme could offer better alternatives or to work in a bipartisan way when that is in the nation's best interest.
Faced with the clear need to combat the crippling effect of the drug trade and corruption, our politicians have responded with acrimonious partisan debate, little more than a spiteful PNP/JLP cat and mouse game.
There has been no meaningful policy alternative or any attempt at cooperation. Jamaica deserves better. Perhaps the bickering in his own party has distracted Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, so that he has had little time for more than cheap shots. Enough is enough; now there are no excuses.
The time is long past when all members of the JLP need to focus on issues and get on with solutions. Tackling corruption and fighting the scourges of crime and drugs require mature, bipartisan leadership.
Enough of Jamaica's precious time has already been squandered by the JLP's self-indulgence. Please put that behind you, Messrs Seaga and Henry. Look forward and with the members of your party offer a coherent, positive programme for Jamaica's future.
Co-operate with the PNP when that is in the nation's best interest. Outline your alternatives where that makes sense. Stop the internal strife.
That's the road to the Majority.
