THE EDITOR: Sir
I AM a former member and candidate for the National Democratic Movement (NDM) in Central Manchester. During the 1980 elections I worked hard with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to make sure we did not go down a road that would be detrimental to our country. After the victory and with the country in the capable hands of Edward Seaga, I went back to business first.
By 1989 elections I could see that the Jamaican people wanted a change from the Eddie Seaga style leadership. The 'Gang of Five', all respectable men in the JLP in the early 1990s, saw the need for change and were treated very poorly when they spoke out. Then the 'Gang of 11 or 12' again saw the need for change. They too were treated badly for making that suggestion.
By this time I was completely disgusted by the mess the People's National Party (PNP) had got the country into, the mess the JLP was in and the fighting between the two. The ray of hope was the NDM that came out with some policies that really made a change, in fact, ideas that changed the face of politics in this country for the better.
CHANGE
Bruce Golding is one of those persons who believes in changes changes in our own lifestyle, if that is what it takes to get a better country. What is impossible for me to understand is this "Rock Stone Labourite", can't change or PNP "until I die". It is this kind of thinking or lack thereof, which leads to such statements, as "whatever it takes for us to stay in power is OK."
Just to take up this point that some are saying, Bruce cannot be much of a leader; look at the way he failed with the NDM. No one could have been more upset by the way Bruce left the NDM after the defeat in NE St. Ann by-election than I was. It took me almost six months to find out that I was always two steps behind Bruce. For almost one month I sent 10 persons per day to Lime Hall in NE St. Ann. At the start we had about 17 per cent support and feeling good, on the day of voting we had only 4 per cent support. Bruce had analysed two elections and one by-election and seen that when it was not voting-time we had the support but when it came to vote the support went home to the JLP or PNP. The people are the ones with the final choice, not leaders. You do not just stay and keep failing, you must move on. Maybe others should follow that example.
I keep on hearing the statement that it is only a fool who keeps doing things the same way and expecting different results. The man with the fine analytical mind has studied the situation and very soon we should see a new plan coming out to lead a new JLP to form a new Jamaica with hope.
I am, etc.,
BINGROY ELLIOTT
Manchester
