THE MAJOR political parties have launched programmes of change and renewal in the context of end-of-year annual conferences and a reshuffling of leadership.
Call it reform or transformation, both parties have undertaken a measure of transition without violent conflict, though the JLP exercise generated some heated exchanges over funding. Both parties, however, have managed to keep third parties at bay in the latest national and local elections. If nothing else these developments should ensure that the political system retains its bipartisan core despite the unprecedented four-term hold on power by the ruling PNP.
One innovation worthy of note was disclosed by the PNP leadership at the Gleaner Editors' Forum on Tuesday. We refer to a developing system of keeping scorecards on the performance of MPs.
In theory MPs are supposed to represent their constituents in Parliament. As far as we are aware this role of representative is not defined by any established job description. The primary aim of the PNP appears to be directed primarily at internal efficiency as it impacts on constituents, which may be good for the party machinery. But it seems to us that a wider canvas could have greater appeal and public benefit, not restricted to the party's fortunes.
One such area is dealt with in the Martin Henry column published elsewhere on this page. It deals with a critical fundamental of the education process: the ability of young people to read and write.
The column cites the achievements of the South St. Andrew Constituency Primary School Reading Project which we featured on the front page of our November 18 edition.
The success of the project, involving some 2,500 primary school students, was spearheaded by MP Dr. Omar Davies who realised the scope of the problem by way of standard literacy tests.
This is a model of what political representation can achieve beyond the immediate objectives of organising support for elections. Dr. Davies, as MP, and also Minister of Finance bearing the onerous responsibility of an ailing economy, has expanded his constituency role in ways worthy of emulation in every constituency.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
