The JLP must change to win
published: Sunday | August 1, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE JAMAICA Labour Party will only stand a good chance of forming the next government if it succeeds in changing its negative public image. This will have to be an ongoing task. The overriding and strong perception of the public is that the JLP is a disunited party. Like any commercial entity that seeks to gain public favour in order that its products will sell in large quantities, the JLP needs to recreate and market itself to the public.

The JLP ought not to wait until election season to advertise and campaign in the media. It needs to do all in its power before the next general election to generate as much positive publicity about the party as possible. For the past several years, due to numerous incidents of in-fighting, the JLP has been seen as a party that is divisive and unable to act as a cohesive unit for any sustained period of time. Long-standing Opposition leader Edward Seaga surely has to shoulder some of the blame for his party's negative public image.

However, it seems to me that a substantial portion of the blame has to be placed firmly upon the shoulders of those JLP members who saw it fit to form 'gangs' aimed at dislodging Seaga from his leadership post. That was not the statesmanlike or constitutional way to go about fulfilling their desire. The 'Gang of Five' and 'Gang of 11' incidents did more to damage the image of the JLP than perhaps any other incidents prior to or since. The JLP is now in transition mode. In the weeks and months ahead, compromise must become the anchor within the party, for the sake of unity. The next leader of the JLP must first reorganise, reunite and reinvigorate the party before he sets his mind towards leading the nation.

I am, etc.,

PATRICK GALLIMORE

pagalley@hotmail.com

Kingston 8

Via Go-Jamaica