Dr. Peter Phillps' Glitz and Glamour

By Delano Seiveright

ALL GLITZ AND GLAMOUR
'Glitz and glamour but little substance'. That was the impression made of
Dr Peter Phillips’ official launch recently to many of us. Not surprisingly though I and surely many others were neither enthralled or even the least bit gratified with his vision for leading a new generation for a new Jamaica.

FAILURE
Dr. Phillips has failed to motivate most Jamaicans and more specifically the youth population for the following five main reasons:

1)He is and has been a very senior and consequently powerful figure within the PNP and the current government for the last near 17 years. He is therefore a part of a regime that has failed this country in far too many areas.

2)His key leadership team is made up of M.Ps and/or Cabinet Ministers whose performances in their respective portfolios leave much to be desired.

3)The crime dilemma under his stewardship as Minister of National Security has worsened dramatically since appointed. Jamaica is now the murder capital of the world. The difficulty of one’s Ministerial portfolio is no excuse for failure.

4)His agenda though commendably focusing on ameliorating Jamaica’s dreadful social and economic conditions for the masses, fails to incorporate critical areas such as constitutional reform and the propulsion and institutionalisation of good governance principles, and;

5)His address contained several politically tribal and inflammatory innuendos. This was particularly disappointing.

RIVALS JUST THE SAME
In fairness his rivals are just as run of the mill particularly in regards to their grossly inadequate visions and their mediocre Ministerial performances.

VISION LACKING
On the other hand Dr, Phillips’ vision for Jamaica has little chance of success if it is not buffered by wide ranging constitutional reform, commitment to the principles of good governance, strong leadership, reduced arrogance and a cadre of effective and progressive colleagues who are unswerving in their love for country.
Hyper corruption, mismanagement, poor leadership and all in all bad governance will continue to figure prominently -as it has under the current regime- if a paradigm shift in visions articulated by the contenders for the top job is not accepted.

BRUCE CERTAINLY GOT IT!
Frankly, Bruce Golding again comes out way ahead of the lot in this regard.