THE EDITOR, Madam:
BY NOW I am sure that the formation of a Government of National Unity is beyond the P.J. Patterson and his administration. I recall many opportunities when he could have extended the "olive branch" to the Opposition parties, National Democratic Move-ment (NDM) and the Jamaica Labour Party in the past.
Some obvious junctures in our recent past which I thought could be an ideal catalyst for this to happen were:
a) The gas riots of April 1999, which stunned the Government into a hurried campaign aimed at what it said was reconnecting with the people. It was blatantly clear by the extent and duration of that event that the Govern-ment was impotent regarding what to do.
b) The call by a segment of the media for truth and reconciliation. Rather than only a former People's National Party Security Minister Dudley Thompson coming out regarding the events of "Green Bay", his initiative should be taken further to embrace healing and lead to an inevitable bonding of our political forces.
c) The collapse of the financial sector and the economy at large was a watershed in our history. It became opportune at this stage for an alliance of all the political forces to be at the very least, tested. This approach might have produced a single but collaborative response to the sector.
d) The most recent deluge of crime and violence saw the introduction of another special squad not having exhaustive consultations period. All the political parties and interest groups should have been invited to brainstorm the issues to avoid the absurdity of another squad when we have already tried so many.
I think that if the Patterson administration has so far failed to unite the country politically, it will never happen under his watch since it should be now obvious he is simply not of that calibre.
We should not, however, rule it out ever happening since the demeanour of the NDM and its leader has come the closest yet, to the kind of aura under which this is likely to happen.
In light of this background, the NDM should continue to be inclusionary, though not compromising its recruitment standards. The fact that the Bruce Golding-led party is not awash with funds at this time should be seen as a blessing in disguise as this will help to safeguard against dispersing scarce benefits, example by vote-buying.
Its policies should be well articulated without swiping at its opponents.
Finally, the NDM must set up its Miniature Policy Implementing Structure (MPIS) so as to exemplify for the public what we can expect should the party come to power next. All the critical areas of the economy should have its own MPIS promulgated by its respective shadow Minister.
I am, etc.,
DERRICK SIMON
Camp David, Golden Spring,
St. Andrew
