THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM beginning to question the wisdom of my previous positive characterisation of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, particularly in the period following her PNP presidential victory. The Portia Simpson Miller that the public witnessed in her maiden Budget presentation recently, as well as in her post-Budget press conference, seemed somewhat unlike the person who captivated the public prior to and following her ascendancy to the office of prime minister.
When the issue of criticisms of her performance arose during her post-budget press conference, she wasted no time in pointing out that her presentation was 'excellent'. It is said that self-praise is no praise and, in that moment, one witnessed a leader who, on the face of it, came across as arrogant and defensive and cannot handle criticisms, even constructive ones.
PUBLIC PRAISE FOR GOLDING
At certain points throughout her Budget presentation, she seemed hell-bent or prepared to do whatever it took to place Opposition Leader Bruce Golding in a negative light. Could this be because Golding, following his budget presentation, has been receiving enormous praise from the public and several leading newspaper columnists throughout the country?
Are we beginning to see the emergence of two Sister Ps - a warm, compassionate and affable Portia on the one hand, and an arrogant, narcissistic and vindictive Portia on the other? I wonder. Only time will tell.
I am, etc.,
Patrick A. Gallimore
pagalley@hotmail.com
Via Go-Jamaica
