Heather Robinson'I REMEMBER the first time we met' is a greeting that many friends exchange years and decades after the first meeting. And if the meeting was a specially good one, further recollections are exchanged and friends laugh and are happy about their continued friendship.
Persons who offer themselves as representatives of the people have a similar situation with which to deal and cope. Experienced political handlers will explain to young political aspirants the importance of making a good first impression on constituents. It really is no different from preparing one's self for the ultimate sales presentation. You must of necessity ensure that you get the attention of your prospect and from there you move on to closing the sale.
Last Sunday Bruce Golding, the third leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, sought to make that good first impression as leader. But, however good many might think this presentation was, for a large group of Jamaicans over 40, this was not our first exposure to Bruce Golding. We remember the Bruce Golding who was Minister of Construction between 1980 and 1989.
History recalls that for the entire period between November 1980 and February 8, 1989 the JLP government built a total of 11,000 houses in the entire Jamaica. When the JLP assumed the role of Government with Bruce Golding sitting in the chair as Minister at Hagley Park road, there was a total of 7,000 houses that had already been started by the Michael Manley government with Anthony Spaulding as the Minister of Housing. So simple subtraction tells us that the JLP under Bruce Golding's stewardship built from scratch a total of 4,000 houses.
A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT
What a great achievement that must have been for a man who in May 1996 could turn his attention to residents of Portmore complaining about the fact that all one could aspire to in Jamaica then, was the ownership of a two-bedroom Portmore house and a deportee motorcar. On May 15, 1996 during the Sectoral Debate I responded to Bruce Golding's remarks in this way: "I am obliged to respond not just as a representative of Portmore two-bedroom residents, but rather as one who meets the qualification specified by the Member - a resident of a two-bedroom Portmore home. How dare the member ridicule those of us who by choice are residents of and owners of a two-bedroom Portmore house? How many houses did he build in Portmore, Mr. Speaker?"
In fact, how many non-Portmore houses did he build at all? How many of his members reside in Portmore and if that number is negligible now, then I wonder how many will wish to be led by a man who ridicules their home. Too many of us criticise others' actions when we have no record of our own on which to build our remarks. Don't do it again, sir, we are proud homeowners who appreciate that we turn our own keys."
Bruce Golding should not believe that while he stood inside the podium with outgoing JLP leader Edward Seaga and Kingston's Mayor, Desmond McKenzie, we are all gullible and fooled by his promises made on Sunday. Anyone who aspires to lead the JLP into government should have a record of service and performance that can make even the dead stand and listen. He succeeded Anthony Spaulding as the minister with responsibility for housing, and was, therefore, in a position to try to do better. But instead he put housing development backwards, and it was not surprising therefore that when Michael Manley and the PNP regained power in 1989, it became a national
priority and continues today.
REMEMBER GOLDING AS AN MP
We who are over 40 and who have had anything to do with St. Catherine and in particular Spanish Town, also remember Bruce Golding as a Member of Parliament. In inviting the Prime Minister to walk with him through Western Kingston and other inner-city communities, Bruce Golding should first visit with his successor in Central St. Catherine and ensure that if and when the Prime Minister takes him up on his invitation, he can ensure that the monuments he left there are no more.
First impressions do last, Bruce Golding, and it is now left to those of us who knew you when you were Minister and Member of Parliament to properly introduce you to the Jamaican electorate.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
