Mark Wignall | When a hurricane blows away a leader

Prime Minister Holness is right now in the process of going through, politically, the roughest period of the post-Hurricane Melissa recovery as expectations rise and governmental logistics continue to hum day and night. Sometimes his words will be intemperate, but we have the duty and the responsibility to judge. The present times will always be finely emulsified with the better of better times. Some reasoning.

One would have to utilise a microscope to search for the fiscal fault lines associated with the PM’s handling of the post-Hurricane Melissa damage and how he has stepped forward to own the mix of moments. Destructive Hurricane Gilbert, in September of 1988, was as much the scratching out of PM Seaga’s claw back to a bigger political relevance as it was him helplessly watching as Michael Manley prepared a sweaty steed for charging into Parliament.

Seaga was never, at his best political time, a likeable man. One had to be really close to him and acutely aware of how he melded long-term political development plans with his cold, deliberate action on the stump to claim any knowing, or understanding, of the shy individual who he really was.

On the other side of the fence, at the time, the Lebanese-Jamaican gazed across and saw the tall, handsome Manley divesting himself of his democratic socialism Kareba of the 1970s as he reached for the highly Westernised suit jacket and necktie. It was all a show as in early 1989, he prepared to move Seaga long term to the parliamentary parking lot.

One senses that the PNP’s political prospects have more relevance in the rear-view mirror at this time. One is not writing off Mark Golding. Nothing like that- only trying to find the slot best suited for him. The presence of PM Holness looms large politically, and one figures that he would have to deliberately hurl his head into a firm boulder or an anvil to perform political Harakiri. A few items exist that could do damage to the PM down the road, but the surety clock in terms of them wounding him in this term is iffy.

I cannot see an immediate need for opinion polling to convince me that PM Holness enjoys significant political likeability at this time. Of course, the percentage representing ‘the best’ is questionable. On social media and on the official news outlets, the PM comes across as meshing with ‘the people’ and leading from the front without the sort of arrogance that he exuded just before the hurricane or the year before.

He is good looking and his smile, his laugh, are not yet overbearing. Politically, therefore, all he has to do is continue to disperse key ministers to the troublesome spots and keep their presence and input relevant.

SSL, PANTON AND THE LEGEND’S MONEY

The tale woven by Stocks and Security Limited (SSL) wealth advisor Jean-Ann Panton about her role in shepherding funds from SSL into assisting her immediate family and what she claims were their pressing needs could make for a most galloping and nerve-wracking narrative on Netflix.

It is not that it is unbelievable. Only that Jamaica is too small to bear such a narrative, and then again, this is only the first chapter. According to the lady, a boss at SSL convinced her to confess. Ms Panton, of course, knows the difference between blame and responsibility. Maybe she bears a little bit of each, and as improbable as it is maybe none and she is as pure and spotless like clouds embracing the Blue Mountains.

It was very obvious that the lady, whatever it was she planned or intended to plan, knew she would have needed someone with ‘standing’ in the company to call the final shots. Whether she called on such a person, or whether she is still floating on where blame ends and responsibility enters the fray, one thing is obvious.

If such a plan was indeed carried out as she initially said, it is time to open the bidding war on international publishing rights. It must be remembered that the living legend Usain Bolt was said to lose close to US$13 million, and it is easy to see where that sum could have been more. It is, at the same time, shocking that the regulatory authorities fell asleep or rusted steel was deliberately thrown in the works at SSL at a most convenient time.

The bosses who have been detained need to tell Mr Bolt where his money is, or, at the very least, weave him a tale of the registration number of the turbo-charged wheelbarrow that sped it out through SSL’s gate.

And, while they are at it, please tell my friend (and others like him) where his US$100,000 life savings are. It pains me to think that a trial such as this may drag on for years. And years.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.