We do not presume to know the intricacies of the decision making in the People's National Party or the organisations that offer themselves for state power in Jamaica, but we do have a deep interest in the kinds and quality of the decisions that they make. For in that political parties entreat people to entrust them with great authority to make decisions over their lives, they cannot presume themselves to be private clubs, closed to the scrutiny of the public. That fact is particularly obvious at times like these, when they are campaigning for elections.

It is in that context, therefore, that we note with particular interest the row that has broken out anew over the selection of a candidate to represent the party in the constituency of South East St. Ann, and resistance by elements in the constituency to the party's latest choice, the former Miss World, Lisa Hanna.

During this past week, much has beensaid and demonstrations have been held in the constituency over what has been claimed to be a high-handed imposition of Miss Hanna by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller . Not least of the arguments against Miss Hanna is that she does not live in the constituency, and that she has in the past been a supporter of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) with no history of work in the PNP. There is also the other matter that the constituency party members would like to have a candidate of its choice.

The first two points, which we can only assume to be badly tainted red herrings, are easily dismissed. The fact is that few parliamentary representatives of this, or previous parliaments, actually live in their constituencies, and there is no rule, either in the country's or the PNP's constitution, which says they must. In any event, residence in a constituency does not guarantee effective representation as, indeed, living outside the constituency cannot automatically negate effectiveness.

As to previous party support, which we assume in Lisa Hanna's case is largely a reference to her past marriage to the former JLP senator, Dr. David Panton, that we feel is a chimera, a matter of little substance, conjured up by the St. Ann group in an effort to have their way. In fact, it is almost laughable for anyone in the PNP, or any other party in Jamaica or elsewhere, to complain about people's shift of support, change of political allegiances or crossing of the parliamentary floor.

Perhaps, there are some legitimate concerns by the South East St. Ann constituency party members about decision making in the PNP, reflecting a need for deep constitutional reform in the party. We, however, feel that the resistance is not about Lisa Hanna but something far more deeply cynical.

After all, elements in the South East St. Ann agitated against, and finally pushed out the sitting MP, Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba, and effectively derailed all other potential replacements nominated by the central party. But while we are unconvinced that the complaints from the St. Ann group are sufficiently grounded in legitimate concerns about the democratic process, Prime Minister Simpson Miller also undercuts her own stated commitments to these principles. If there are specific causes for concern about the character of the pervious contenders for the post, surely, as party leader, she should be able to present cogent arguments to persuade the dissenters to reconsider their position. Either you support the democratic process or you do not.

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