THE EDITOR, Sir:I HAVE BEEN following with interest the debate on the forthcoming People's National Party (PNP) vice-presidential elections.
It seems that Paul Burke is proposing something quite far-reaching for Jamaican politics, in that he wants to be president of the PNP, but has no desire to be prime minister.
The job of prime minister in his plan would go to Mrs. Simpson Miller. Since there has been no response from her, one would have to assume that Mrs. Simpson-Miller is not averse to Mr. Burke's proposal.
From any point of view, this proposal for power-sharing raises serious questions for all Jamaicans: how will this work in practice?
Will Mr. Burke be a member of the Cabinet? Or will Mrs. Simpson Miller consult with him before Cabinet meetings? Where they cannot agree, whose view will prevail?
Answers to these questions are very important to me since I am not a delegate to the PNP and will not get a chance to vote for or against Mr. Burke.
FACE ELECTORATE
However, if Mr. Burke is planning to play such a major role in the affairs of the country, surely he ought to face the electorate.
Mr. Burke has spent many months promoting his programme for transformation, in which he spells out what the PNP would be like under his presidency.
However, since the public debate on his hidden agenda, he now claims that he would be content to be a vice-president of the PNP. Is this another manoeuvre?
I believe it is, and that as soon as the time is right, Mr. Burke will resume his real agenda which would be for him to be the president and for Mrs. Simpson Miller to be prime minister.
Judging from the information that has come to light, it is clear that some of the PNP leaders think that they can manipulate Mr. Burke. However, it would seem that it is Mr. Burke who will do the manipulation.
Recently, there have been some strange events in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Mr. Seaga was hounded out while Mr. Burke's cousin, James Robertson, has become one of the big power brokers in that party. What is there to prevent the same thing happening in the PNP?
In a very insightful article, Garnett Roper observed that it is indeed possible that two cousins in two political parties could once again dominate Jamaican politics.
The prospect of Jamaica falling into the hands of Mr. Burke and his cousin, Mr. Robertson, must be serious food for thought for every well-thinking Jamaican.
Against this background, it cannot be in Mrs. Simpson Miller's interest to remain silent.
I am, etc.,
KEVIN GOLDING
Kevingold77@yahoo.com
