Thank you, Bruce!

THE EDITOR, Sir:

As Prime Minister Bruce Golding prepares to demit office, many columns and editorials have been focused on the characteristics of the next PM. Understandably, the expectations remain high for Andrew Holness as he assumes Jamaica's highest political office; I hope he was taking notes.

I will not be too eager to label Mr Golding's stewardship a failure, but rather reserve for him a grade 'I' for incomplete. Promising to be the 'driving' force behind required legislative changes, Mr Golding ascended to Jamaica House with a priority to strengthening governance mechanisms.

But the Dudus-Manatt issue aside, I would like to think that Mr Golding played a part in raising the governance bar, but would eventually be found wanting. I will give him his due for at least speaking diagnostically about some of the complex matters facing the country. How he may have chosen to engage some of these issues continues to be a matter for debate for which history will judge him.

His inability to have broader stakeholder consultation did not go unnoticed in his four years in the job. The virtual absence of the bipartisan Vale Royal summit meant that both offices of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition did not serve the best interest of Jamaica. From the stalled situation with the International Monetary Fund, it is clear that this unilateral approach to governance will not help going forward.

Mr Holness deserves the nation's support in his elevation, as the country says thank you to Mr Golding, whose inaugural speech still rings clearly in my mind. No more messianic messages needed, Mr Holness, just your willingness to recognise and lead an all-inclusive 'Team Jamaica' a little further from where you now find it. Godspeed!

DEVON SPAULDING

poet_n_i@yahoo.com

St Catherine