Mark Wignall | No need for PNP to dwell on political panic

My advice is, save the shivering for later, much later and, in the interim, build your team until you are ready for a genuine backsiding or you have met all the criteria needed for shovelling Dr Holness and the (Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to the nearest political landfill.

Depending on which side of the catastrophe fence you sit, you may have had two solid, painful episodes that cut to the bone. You voted for the People’s National Party (PNP) and the party lost, the lesser of the two. The monster hurricane Melissa blew away more than 70% of the western part of Jamaica and we all lost.

As we all surmised at the time when cheap, blue tarpaulins were being spread and winds were ripping them apart, bigger political fights were in the making. Prior to the super storm, the majority of private housing was uninsured and, at some stage, the power of government would have to be invoked if some sort of societal order was to be reclaimed. There was just no other choice.

A woman cannot hustle off her two children to school in the early morning after they had rats nibbling on their toes in the dry corner of the house the night before. Her man, doing the easiest available construction, is subject to the bank timely releasing funds to his boss so that the father can satisfy the house and groceries next Friday. And, importantly, purchase four lengths of one by six lumber so that he can bring back the family

It seems that, in Jamaica, there is always a season of politics brewing. But we should all quieten down and leave the political people to generate their own noise. After all, an election was just held last year and, although in our jurisdiction the PM has a unique superpower which allows him to play games with our heads and, as the time of elections approaches, to use that power to dance with us around the mulberry bush, we must be wary but not right now.

The most important vehicle designed by the ruling administration to administer funds and goods donated/amassed for post-Melissa recovery is NaRRA or National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority Act 2026, a vehicle designed from the outset not to be without Opposition criticism.

The NaRRA is like a super Act in the system dealing with, as it says, central coordination, single point of management, driving government-led construction of roads, bridges, schools etc. In our healthy democracy, anything designed by the government after a disaster would attract criticism.

QUALITY PERSONNEL

The position I take as a public commentator on most political matters is that the default setting on most politicians is hypocrisy. A politician who wants to survive must first wallow in the swamp until he ascends into the free, liberating air.

It is therefore normal for members of one party to pounce on negatives of the other and, even where few such negatives exist, invent, invent and invent. The PNP’s worst fault is that its dirty laundry was left hanging on the line and it all came out in the wash. Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding then gave a mock-up act of leadership and made it all a tragedy.

Political pundits should not be afraid of placing them on the political runway and lauding those who are top shelf and pointing out those who are best in occupying the lowest, rusted, crushed-up places in the cabinet, pun intended.

The PNP knows how much work went towards making NaRRA whole. One can sense that Dr Holness is at that state when he feels personally driven by destiny rather than by his own, considered judgement. It could be that the PM is on the way to something bigger than himself, being a man on a mission.

Mark Golding looks on and, if he’s honest, he would say that he hankers after that kind of self-sustaining power and leadership. Inside the PNP, one senses that the Damion Crawford wing of the party will never do well seeing eye to eye with the others close to Golding. Add to that the culture clash which loudly pokes out and begins to define the modern-day PNP.

The JLP recently lost Dr Nigel Clarke, who outgrew all things local and glimpsed inside the eye of global power. Surely there must be someone, either actively seeking the new stardom or being pushed there by others. While the PNP is automatically hemmed in by the Crawford reality, on the other side a new liberation abounds.

Each time I see someone like Junior Minister Delano Seivewright stand up to give a presentation in some international forum, I get the sense that someone like him represents the party, not necessarily in its present incarnation but as a signpost to bigger ideas and better directions.

There are some, like me, who believe that Opposition Leader Mark Golding has given his best and he is now in a state of political delusion where Jamaica House grows bigger in his mind as its real grasp becomes even more tenuous.

The excessive damage by Melissa and the need to create an Act like NaRRA have given Dr Holness and his team more than a greater shot of solid development over the next four years. If there is thunder to be stolen, roll with it.

And, yes, cool down. It is four long years, PNP: torture if you want it to be and turnaround if you are politically brave and unafraid of a gamble.

Mr Golding, don’t be embarrassed, and please don’t confirm it by voice note. But, it’s okay to mimic Dr Holness’ leadership style.

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