Heather Robinson
HAVE YOU attended or watched on TVJ any of the four Leadership Forums sponsored by the University of the West Indies? To date, the speakers have been Bruce Golding of the JLP, and Dr. Peter Phillips, Dr. Omar Davies and Dr. Karl Blythe of the PNP.
Having attended all of the presentations by the PNP contenders for the presidency of the PNP, I am in a better position than I was before to try to determine who is most suitable to lead the PNP. But decisions like this should not be done before we have also heard from Robert Pickersgill and Portia Simpson Miller.
During this period we have also been treated to presentations during the Budget Debate by Ministers Davies and Phillips and Opposition Leader Bruce Golding. And on Tuesday last we heard from the Prime Minister in what was one of his most relaxed presentations, and some say perhaps his last contribution to a Budget Debate.
The forums that are being held at the University of the West Indies take the form of a presentation by the speaker, after which questions are put to the speaker by members of the audience. There is no limit on the type of question that can be asked and the audiences both at the Undercroft and on TVJ have an opportunity to judge the competence and potential of these individuals.
A wide range of questions are asked and some have absolutely nothing to do with the portfolio responsibility of the minister. So if you have not been paying attention during sittings of Parliament and the Cabinet, and if you have not been reading Cabinet and parliamentary papers thoroughly, you could be in deep trouble. Not only do you need to be aware of what is happening here in Jamaica, you also need to be knowledgeable about what is happening internationally.
MOST VULNERABLE
It is at this point that persons are most vulnerable. In fact someone with whom I spoke last week told me that it is necessary that the fourth president of the PNP be able to take her beyond Palisadoes. She explained that this new president must be able to make her proud beyond the Jamaican shoreline.
Isn't it ironic that this strip of land which houses one of our country's two international airports is named in honour of the PNP's first President, Norman Manley? The fourth president must make both Norman and Michael Manley say: "Mission Accomplished" and P.J. Patterson must be able to take up the phone and say: 'Well done. I am pleased".
Sitting inside Gordon House on Tuesday and listening to the President of the PNP and Prime Minister of Jamaica, P.J. Patterson, make his contribution to the Budget Debate was special, especially since I was seated with some former parliamentarians dating back as far as the seventies.
Where I sat, I was able to watch the responses of three of the contenders to succeed Mr. Patterson. Peter Phillips, Omar Davies and Portia Simpson Miller were all present and seated to the immediate left and right of Mr. Patterson. Noticeably absent was Dr. Karl Blythe.
The audience at the Undercroft is comprised mainly of university students who are for the most part young people, as well as some of the lecturers. This group who, for the time being, are pursuing academic careers must be grading the presenters, while trying to determine who is most prepared and suitable to lead the People's National Party and ultimately Jamaica.. Four of the aspirants are graduates of the University of the West Indies and have the benefit of being at ease with themselves in a familiar place.
Many of the courses at UWI and other tertiary institutions offer a course work component , which contributes to the final grade.
ONGOING ASSESSMENT PROCESS
The course work for elected representatives includes the work done at the constituency and ministerial levels, with the final grade being provided by the electorate, and in the case of the PNP succession race, the delegates.
This assessment is therefore an ongoing process, and it will be interesting to see who comes out with a passing grade from both our television and undercroft audiences.
Contenders need to remember however, that the process of assessment is an ongoing one, and those who are steady and consistent workers and performers have the best chance of being able to take the PNP and Jamaica beyond Palisadoes.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
