Heather Robinson PRIME MINISTER and President of the People's National Party, P.J. Patterson, told Jamaica last Saturday that he plans to be still Prime Minister in May 2005. Prospective delegates of the People's National Party listen more attentively than normal whenever Mr. Patterson speaks about his proposed date of retirement. These delegates, having heard this latest announcement, will begin to prepare themselves for the People's National Party's 66th Annual conference in September.
At that time they expect to be given another signal by their party president, as the process of seeking to elect the fourth president of the PNP continues. But in looking ahead to the election of the PNP's fourth president and eventually the Jamaica Labour Party's fourth party leader, an examination of some critical dates in the lives of Jamaica's six Premiers/Prime Ministers is very, very interesting.
A rank ordering of these six Party presidents/leaders by their ages reveals the following: Hugh Shearer and Edward Seaga were both 44 when they were elected leader of the JLP. Norman Manley and Michael Manley were both 45 when they were elected to the post of president of the PNP. P.J. Patterson was elected to this post at age 57, and Alexander Bustamante was 59, the oldest of the group when he formed the JLP in 1943.
ASPIRATION
Those aspiring to lead in the JLP, who fall within the 44-59 age cohort, should perhaps begin to prepare themselves. And within the PNP, those Members of Parliament within the 45-57 age cohort could do likewise. First-time MPs should also note that both Shearer and Seaga were 32 when they first entered Parliament, while P.J. Patterson was 34 and Michael Manley was 43. Norman Manley was 56 and Bustamante 60. Bustamante assumed three new roles almost simultaneously. These were leader of the JLP, Premier and Member of the House of Representatives (MHR). Norman Manley had five years of parliamentary experience when he became Premier and seventeen years as party president in 1955. He had no ministerial experience.
Michael Manley had no previous ministerial experience when he became Jamaica's third Prime Minister in 1972. He had not worked in a Ministry and was leading the PNP for three years. Edward Seaga had been a Minister of Government for 10 years, M.P. for 18 years and party leader for six years, when he became PM in 1980.
There is no doubt that P.J. Patterson is the Prime Minister who was the most prepared for the leadership post. In 1992 Mr. Patterson was an M.P. of 14 years; a Minister with 11 years experience; Deputy Prime Minister for 4 years and party chairman for 9 years.
An examination of the age at which four of our leaders retired is also very instructive. Michael Manley retired at age 67. He is the youngest of the group to retire. He is followed by Hugh Shearer at 70, Norman Manley at 76 and Alexander Bustamante at 83. Mr. Seaga has already passed the age at which both Norman Manley and Hugh Shearer retired, that of 74. It is only Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley who were older, being 83 and 76 respectively.
Mr. Patterson has stated that he will not contest the scheduled general election of 2007 at which time he would be 72 and still younger than Mr. Seaga's current age of 74. Norman Manley served as party president for 31 years. He is followed by Seaga with 30 and Bustamante with 24 years. Michael Manley is next with 23 years and P.J. Patterson with 12 years so far. Mr. Shearer has the record for the shortest tenure, a mere seven years.
Jamaica will best be served by those who in looking back, still have the time and experience to look forward.
WHO IS NEXT?
Heather Robinson is a Senior
Life Underwriter and former
Member of Parliament.
