By Lynford Simpson, Staff Reporter
Edwards and Spencer
A RESHUFFLING of the Cabinet by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson last November following the departure of Information Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Paul Robertson, resulted in the promotion of two junior ministers.
Both Mrs. Henry-Wilson and Dr. Robertson left to concentrate on campaigning for the upcoming general election.
The move resulted in changes to the seating arrangements in the House of Representatives. Colin Campbell was promoted to Information Minister and Horace Dalley given the Land and Environment portfolio. Both moved to the front benches.
One other junior minister, Dean Peart, was promoted five months later when Dr. Karl Blythe resigned as Water and Housing Minister, the biggest casualty of the Operation PRIDE/National Housing Development Corporation scandal that erupted in February. Mr. Peart was sent to the Labour and Social Security Ministry and Donald Buchanan reassigned to Water and Housing.
Much more than seating arrangements were affected as a result of the Cabinet changes. The added responsibility thrusted upon Messrs. Dalley and Campbell had a maturing effect on the two, who, in my estimation, were among the chief hecklers in the House. Although the ministerial appointment has not necessarily made Mr. Campbell any less confrontational when defending his party, he has not been much of a heckler since. Both men speak with much more authority and display a greater sense of responsibility.
For his part, Mr. Peart is steady but has remained his feisty and brutally frank self when dealing with his Opposition counterparts. He has already shown that he is up to the challenge, and his contribution last month to the Sectoral Debate can be described as useful.
Anthony Hylton, who was shifted from Foreign Trade to Mining and Energy, has brought a level of enthusiasm to that ministry not seen in years. Young and enthusiastic, he has won over many supporters with his na-tural gas proposal which, if accepted and implemented, could save the country millions of dollars annually, while creating jobs. He has shown up his predecessor, Robert Pickersgill, who many felt had accomplished very little at that Ministry.
In fairness to Mr. Pickersgill, he is better suited at Transport and Works, an area he was formerly associated with. His task has been made much easier this time around because of the work that Dr. Peter Phillips did when he had portfolio responsibility for Transport and Works.
Jennifer Edwards, the only woman to receive a promotion for quite some time, has adapted well as junior minister for Agriculture. She is not new to positions of leadership, having served as Chairman of the St. Catherine Parish Council and Mayor of Spanish Town. She should do well.
The Cabinet reshuffle last November has proved to be quite revealing for other reasons. It has tested the intellectual and other capacities of some of our most senior ministers, perhaps none moreso than Dr. Peter Phillips who was shifted from Transport and Works to National Security.
By shifting K.D. Knight from the National Security and Justice Ministry, where he had been for more than a dozen years, Mr. Patterson had conceded that despite his best efforts, crime was still out of control and had begun to affect the Government and the party. Significantly, the shift last November was made with a general election less than a year away. The Prime Minister has said the general election will be held before year-end.
Many will argue that violent crime continues to be the biggest challenge facing the country, with more than 600 people being murdered since the start of the year. Dr. Phillips, however, seems to be winning over more supporters than detractors, something Mr. Knight did not accomplish. Perhaps this is because Dr. Phillips is perceived as less arrogant, intellectually sharp and sincere. Not to say that Mr. Knight is neither sincere nor bright in fact he's both bright and sincere. But, those closest to him feel his arrogance might have robbed him of crucial support in his efforts to tame the monster called crime.
Dr. Phillips may be perceived as more of a people person. He is unconfrontational for the most part and is usually on his best behaviour in the House, conscious no doubt that he is perceived to be a prime contender to take over as Prime Minister after the Patterson era.
While Mr. Knight did not succeed at the level he would have liked, however, he can claim responsibility for introducing more legislation aimed at fighting crime, than any other minister before him.
There were also interesting developments in the Senate. Government Senator Janet Madden left for an overseas assignment. She will not be missed. She was mostly absent during the past year, and when she did put in an appearance she hardly contributed anything.
Young blood was introduced to the Upper House in February, with the appointment of Kern Spencer, Parliamentary Secretary at the National Security Ministry. Like Senator Floyd Morris, who was appointed before him, he is enthusiastic. However, both are yet to make a mark. With Senator Morris being State Minister at the Labour Ministry, it is left to be seen whether either of them have the capacity to undertake their ministerial responsibilities and senatorial duties at the same time. The Senate is one of those places which does not allow you time to settle. Mr. Morris' contribution to the State of the Nation Debate has so far been too parochial.
By contrast, Norman Grant, the most recent appointee to the Senate he replaced Mrs Madden, has already demonstrated that he is up to the task. His first contribution to the State of the Nation Debate was solid full of interesting, seemingly workable solutions.
The House of Representatives lost Seymour Mullings who is now Jamaica's Ambassador to Washington. The Senate lost Maxine Henry-Wilson to the campaign trail, to concentrate on her duties as PNP General-Secretary. She was Leader of Government Business at the time, a position now filled by Burchell Whiteman. While neither Mr. Mullings nor Mrs Henry-Wilson can be fully replaced, both Houses of Parliament remain strong and are likely to remain that way for a long time.
