Colin Steer, Associate Editor - Opinion

It was inevitable that the People's National Party (PNP), which has, for decades, utilised and crafted messages in its political education and election campaigns based on class divisions and class warfare, should now be riven by similar charges and conflicts. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, Hosea prophesied centuries ago.

For years, many Jamaicans who have contributed to the develop-ment of this country have been pilloried and classified as being less than Jamaican if they were not supporters of the party, or were critical of its leaders or their policies. The contributions of others were dismissed as being of little or no consequence.

With this, we have seen university undergraduates repeating, with juvenile enthusiasm, mantras of their lecturers about the roles and involvement of racial minorities or other political and public figures in Jamaica's development.

More divisions to come

Therefore, one should understand that the divisions now manifested within the ranks of the party have yet to run their full course. More will follow, and not only in any purging or exclusion of the Peter Phillips' faction.

Searing ambition knows no limits. Sooner or later, some of those now clinging to Mrs Simpson Miller's skirt tail, will come to a couple of conclusions.

They will begin to agitate for change, having decided, as they did before they were tapped to serve her campaign and administration, that she lacks the discipline, mental capacity and persona to do an effective job as leader in today's world.

Or, they will decide that they can do much better. Don't be surprised if there should develop a new round of struggle among themselves as they jockey for positions, especially with a successful venture in which many will want to claim the role as chief architect. That is always the outcome when people are driven by a lust for power over any commit-ment to public service.

But there is another related aspect to the recently concluded party elections.

With Joseph 'Bunny' Witter coming so close to being a vice-president, it has become clear that a 'new quality' of delegate has emerged to shape the nature and character of the PNP. They seemingly are being guided by some, as yet unclear, parameters as to what are the criteria for serving in party posts and what these persons are expected to do.

Perhaps, they have decided that demonstrated commitment and service at various levels are of no importance before elevation, or that such things do not matter in the bigger scheme of things. For them, it was far more important to have a team of loyalists around the leader - whatever the competence or lack thereof.

History and leadership

It is arguable, of course, that talent and qualification for political leadership do not reside in only one type of person, that is, the tertiary level-educated and articulate.

Human history, after all, is replete with the examples of the rejected, outcasts and the overlooked making significant contributions to public life.

Equally, history has its many examples of leaders of organisations and rank-and-file people making decisions, trying unsuccessfully to undo what has already been set in motion, when faced with the consequences of their actions.

So, what are the implications for Jamaica, for the direction in which Mrs Simpson Miller and her team of advisors would want to lead the country?

That question would have been equally applicable to Dr Phillips.

Protection from 'friends'

Of course, in competitive politics, a leader cannot afford to be naive, and needs to be wary of those who would seek to undermine his or her leadership.

But without descending into paranoia, the confirmed PNP president needs to consider the characteristics of human nature.

People who switch allegiance easily from one group to another, with equal enthusiasm, are usually ruminating a song, the title of which is 'Me, me, me'.

Mrs Simpson Miller would do well to repeat the prayer I saw recently displayed in a store: "Lord, save me from my friends, and I will deal with my enemies."

Feedback may be sent to colin.steer@gleanerjm.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.