AFTER SEVERAL years in government as a Cabinet Minister in different ministries, Robert Pickersgill has yet to distinguish himself either as a performer or visionary. On Wednesday night, he opted to embellish that record with an egregious display of bad manners and contempt for the people of Portmore.
Presented with a wonderful opportunity to have meaningful and rational dialogue with angry residents over the planned toll road
system for people who would normally use the Causeway, the minister effectively poured kerosene on burning debris.
His subsequent apology to a man who was seeking clarification on statements made earlier, and of whom he asked whether "it was that time of the month?" in clear pejorative innuendo, was unworthy of anybody in a public forum let alone from a minister of government. Public officials are subject to hard questioning from their constituents from time to time. Heckling is often part of the package, but that goes with the territory. Those who aspire to lead must not only develop thick hides but must rise above the fray. Mr. Pickersgill went several bars lower on Wednesday night.
It is understandable that the minister might have been discomfited by some of the questions, but he has no one but himself to blame. The queries and concerns have been mounting over several weeks adding to a general climate of discontent among many residents of Portmore who believe they are being taken for granted. All this time the
minister kept his head low in a jungle of consultants' reports and
recommendations. A more proactive minister would have moved to defuse the anger much earlier.
Hence, the response to his promises of a likely increase in property values and general benefits suggests that cynicism and anger have deepened.
We suggest that the minister make another attempt to reach out to the people of Portmore, by acknowledging that their concerns are legitimate but may not be insurmountable, and seek to have another meeting with a representative sample from the area for discussions that perhaps may accommodate a compromise.
The public of Jamaica may not have the many consultants to call on as frequently as does the minister, but that does not make them fools. It may well be that the toll road system will bring more benefits than the discomfort, economic or otherwise, that the residents fear. But a "take it or leave it attitude" will not work, not in the Jamaica of 2005.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
