Will Andrew think outside the box?

Dennie Quill, Columnist

Having completed appointments to the Cabinet yesterday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has given a clear signal that he and his team are ready to tackle the major issues on his Government's plate.

Considering that Holness is up against one of the most challenging economic times that could ever face a new prime minister, he scores high marks for appearing to understand the enormity of the problems ahead. We expect that as he focuses attention on the economy, he will also seek to appoint an economic growth team putting the best available minds to work.

And when it comes to national security, there can be no letting up, for even though crime is trending downwards, there continues to be horrific scenes of brutality in many villages and towns of Jamaica. How can we forget the chilling crimes committed in St Thomas in recent weeks when a family, save for the mother, was wiped out by persons who killed the father and burnt his children to death. The police are making early breakthroughs in these crimes.

Catch perpetrators

Jamaicans have always maintained that one of the strongest deterrents in crime prevention is to catch perpetrators and put them in front of a judge. So Mr Holness has demonstrated good judgement by making this appointment to send a signal that he deems this to be a matter of national priority.

If you are convinced as I am that the lack of education is at the core of many of our problems which render people unable to reason logically, you would appreciate that there will be no break in the momentum achieved under Mr Holness' leadership of the Ministry of Education. The urgency to improve students' achievements is ever present, and hopefully Prime Minister Mr Holness will be able to devote the requisite attention to education.

Yesterday's appointments to the Cabinet will help to answer some of the questions that people have been asking about this 39-year-old politician. What is he made of? How does he think? Will his appointments reflect political paybacks and patronage positions? What genius plans does he have to restore confidence in the political system? There are, indeed, many unanswered questions.

Warmington spell

Meanwhile, some people are wondering what to make of the fact that in his first official outing as prime minister, Mr Holness came under the spell of the most controversial member of parliament, the sharp-tongued Everald Warmington, who appears to be taking some credit for Mr Holness' ascendancy. Warmington was one of the first to endorse Mr Holness and pledge all his delegates, which appeared to start a chain reaction among JLP parliamentarians.

However, when one examines the prime minister's inaugural remarks about returning decorum to the nation's Parliament, it is a little puzzling that he would first seek to embrace the member who has been by far the most disruptive and raucous. Admittedly, on Sunday night, Mr Warmington was in a different mode, quoting liberally from the scriptures.

Are we, therefore, to see our new prime minister as a wise man who is serious about reform, thoughtful in his approach and sensitive to the fact that we are in a place where we urgently need out-of-the box thinkers with solutions?

Dennie Quill is a veteran media practitioner. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.