The magnitude of this global economic crisis demands competent and sound leadership. It calls for a leader with a cool head and steady hands, and not merely a leader with a huge amount of charismatic appeal.
I am convinced, now more than ever, that Prime Minister Bruce Golding is the man that Jamaica needs at the helm during these difficult and trying times. He is seemingly shaping up to becoming that consummate political leader - a metamorphosis or evolution that bodes well for Jamaica.
Perhaps the Jamaican electorate was being somewhat prescient when it decided in September 2007, shortly before the tsunamic downturn in the global economy, that it was necessary to change course politically.
Filled with compassion
Golding has a vision for a Jamaica within which 'not everyone may be rich, but no one has to be poor'. Filled with compassion, he has taken several steps since becoming prime minister to realise this vision for a better Jamaica.
He started off his prime ministership by enacting legislation to roll back the prime minister's pension to 75 per cent from the 100 per cent of the current salary of the prime minister approved by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson shortly before he demitted office. Although the law changed while he was in the post of prime minister and would not affect him, Golding nonetheless decided to take the 75 per cent when he retires.
He continues to use as his official car the old Volvo that was also used by his two immediate predecessors, despite its mechanical problems, so as to save the country some well-needed funds.
Only recently, he decided against a salary increase that was due to him on April 1 and, on top of that, decided to take a 15 per cent pay cut. He also encouraged and got the support of his fellow Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) members of Parliament (MPs) to accept a recommended 10 per cent salary cut.
Recognises the challenges
Golding saw it only appropriate for him to act, since he would have to ask public-sector workers to hold off on any increases in their wages and perquisites at this time and as he recognises and appreciates the challenges of the times.
The People's National Party (PNP) has not yet accepted the suggested 10 per cent salary cut and probably will not, given its history.
The PNP voted in 2005 to ensure former PM Patterson would retire comfortably, but did not seemingly give a hoot about the many poor Jamaicans and retirees who are barely surviving on the meagre pensions they get for their years of service to Jamaica. Not one PNP MP voted against the measure then, whereas all the JLP MPs then in opposition voted against the increase.
The PNP did not seem to care much about the wages and benefits of the ordinary poor Jamaicans and public-sector workers when, in 2003, it voted to give parliamentarians a whopping salary increase, while it decided to grant the teachers a mere six per cent wage increase over a two-year period and nothing to the police.
The PNP and its president, Portia Simpson Miller, have declared repeatedly that the PNP loves the poor. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that Mr Golding is being chided by the PNP for his noble actions to help the poor out of a life of penury. For if Mr Golding succeeds, there will be fewer people for Simpson Miller and the PNP to love.
I am, etc.,
KEVIN K.O. SANGSTER
sangstek@msn.com