IT'S THAT time of the year again when we have the annual grading list for the Jamaican Cabinet over the past year. Now, I am not talking about the various kinds of Jamaican timber found throughout the island, although with the passage of Hurricane Ivan and the deforestation which it brought, we could compare much of the Ministerial talent in the current Cabinet to deadwood, but instead I am applying the grading list to the seventeen Ministers in charge of various portfolios in the country.
First a disclaimer, given that despite the progress made with the Freedom of Information Act, one can still be subject to laws of libel and defamation in Jamaica (even if true but unproven). The following grades are entirely subjective, based on the perception of ministerial performance and, a poor grade means that the minister needs to fire his PR team and replace them with a new set.
GRADING SYSTEM
For those who are not familiar with the grading system, an 'A' grade means the minister performed very well in his/her portfolio, demonstrating competence and grasp of the relevant issues throughout the year, backed up with a solid performance. A 'B' grade means an above average performer and a 'C' grade is a passing grade but the Minister needs to work a little harder. Grades 'D' to 'F' are all failing grades and it is a tribute to the high tolerance level that Jamaicans have for mediocrity, that Ministers are under no undue pressure to resign.
This year's grades came against a background of major sporting achievements (the 2004 Summer Olympics; the Tests debacle and the ICC Champion's Trophy success, as well as the see-saw performance of the 'Reggae Boyz' on the 2006 World Cup trail. Performances will therefore be likened to the relevant sporting similarity.
A LOT OF C GRADES
It's not surprising that there are a lot of C grades given out this year. One goes to the Minister of Development, Dr. Paul Robertson, who can point to the comparatively good record of investment in Jamaica by others, despite the overall fall in investment levels worldwide in 2003. Dr. Paul Robertson would, in fact, have commandeered a higher grade during the past year if it wasn't for his uncertainty about the standard disclaimer in World Bank reports, when criticised by the Opposition shadow Minister, on the positive investment claims. Dr. Robertson also lost points for his bolting from the House when he came under intense questioning from the House, leading to the Mace incident and subsequent apologies by all concerned. Perhaps Dr. Robertson should think of an alternative career as the personal coach of a noted young athlete, to demonstrate to him, how to bolt from the field when under stress.
The Minister of Health John Junor, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice A.J. Nicholson, the Labour & Social Security Minister Horace Dalley, the Minister of Land & the Environment Dean Peart, all came up with C grades, as their performances were quite steady, like our 1600m relay ladies, who continue to deliver at nearly every championship, even if it does not bring in the gold.
MUCH WITH LITTLE RESOURCES
Health did much with very little resources (does this remind you of any sport); Justice survived stumbles with the Janice Allen case and UCJ, had troubles with the Clinton Bernard case, but recovered and come out reasonably successful like Danny McFarlane in the 400m hurdles. Dalley continues to run the gauntlet of trade union opposition to any proposed changes to labour laws, and is under pressure to revise the IDT but survived the year, much like a beleaguered West Indian captain. Peart had a year where there was very little success or failure, a bit like our jumpers, coming close to prominence but never quite achieving it.
D grades went to the Minister of Agriculture, the affable Roger Clarke; the Minister of Education, Youth & Culture, Maxine Henry-Wilson; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, K.D. Knight.
Minister Clarke speaks with more optimism about agricultural success than those who repeatedly say that the West Indies Cricket team has turned the corner. Suffice to say wishing doesn't always bring reward or else the Reggae Boyz would not be hoping for a miracle result in the USA on Nov. 17, but then who knows, after all we had that glorious win in El Salvador and there is still much debate over whether it was scientific reasons or prayers of divine intervention that turned the eye of Hurricane Ivan away from Jamaica.
The current troubles in education and culture are even more well-known than the steroid controversy, or the Gay group Outrage targeting prominent dancehall performers, so very little will be said on it, since I don't want to be accused (like prominent U.S. sprinters bound up with BALCO) or be accused of undermining educational reputation, like the Minott report, or horror of horrors, have gay campaigners latch on to my back.
CHANGE OF PORTFOLIO
Pity K.D. Knight, even a change of portfolio can't get him to avoid a D grade since he was caught shouting an expletive at a fellow Minister (copied later by U.S. Vice-president Dick Cheney, on the Senate floor) and his bird-bush shooting escapades have also made the news. It seems we sent up the wrong representative for pistol shooting in the Olympics.
B grades went to the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Aloun Assamba; the Minister of Transport & Works, Robert Pickersgill; the Minister of Water & Housing, Donald Buchanan; the Minister of Commerce, Science & Technology, Philip Paulwell; and the Minister of Information, Burchell Whiteman. Assamba has survived her boasting of packing a S.E. St. Ann Civic committee; Pickersgill and Buchanan, the road and water complaints, post-Ivan; Paulwell the 'don't call us' spam bill in the U.S. (hitting his telemarketing job hopes); and Whiteman gets high marks for putting positive spins on most things, even sharper than a Warne or Muralitharan turner.
A 'B' grade also went to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Omar Davies, for his performance. Written off at the start of the year, a bit like Courtney Brown, the Barbadian wicket-keeper with butter-fingers on his previous West Indian appearances, Dr. Davis survived the year, to not only raise his profile (above Saddam of Iraq) but there was even (gasp) vacant People's National Party president post, when it became available. Perhaps Dr. Davis should be appointed the new head coach of the senior football team, or the West Indian cricket coach, to prove that a local can also do the job. Many would wish him to be granted special leave, to go into one of these two lobs, given that he has only received plaudits from the external financial institutions.
CONTRAST
There was a contrast between the two front-runners for the next Party president post, the Minister of Local Government, Community Development & Sports, Portia Simpson Miller and the Minister of National Security, Peter Phillips. Portia easily reaped an 'A' grade as despite vituperation, finger in her face and displeasure from colleagues she was seen as sticking up for a better fire service, presiding over a more efficient local government and her presence and support in sports is considered very genuine. A golden Veronica Campbell awarded to Portia except that she kisses rather than cries.
Peter Phillips, on the other hand must feel similar to another Peter in the courtyard of Gethsemane, when he must deny the troubles of a difficult Ministry. At wits end in how to combat rising murder rates; rising corruption (amongst both major parties, it is alleged), under pressure from Jamaicans for Justice, the police officer hierarchy for lack of government material support; and Amnesty International, his only major success was the arrest of some accused figures as drug dons. An easy F grade here as a lot of non-starting took place over plans versus execution, ala Bolt in the World Junior Championship or Asafa in the 200m Olympics.
ROARING THROUGH
This leaves only the Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, the Minister of Defence, to be graded. Written off like Hicham El Guerrouj in the Olympics (having never won in previous championships), the P.M. came roaring through with impressive performances in refusing to recognise an illegitimate created regime in Haiti (by force of arms); hosted the Aristide family in St. Ann (despite bad-mind U.S. officials here and abroad) and demonstrating strong leadership, just before and after Hurricane Ivan (including the imposition of a state of emergency). An 'A' grade would have followed except for his 'waffling/dithering' over where to choose a Jamaican World Cup 2007 site (Trelawny or Kingston), not wishing to offend the losing party. He therefore leaves the class on a good note (unlike another of his ilk this year) receiving a 'B' grade. I am hopeful that this will be his final grade.
