Beverley Anderson-Manley
THE CONCISE Oxford Dictionary defines 'transition' as "a passage or change from one place or state or act or set of circumstances to another." Yesterday, the People's National Party (PNP) met in a regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to witness and participate in the transition from one party leader to another.
Prime Minister Patterson is leaving office just under two years before his time is up. Although Mr. Patterson kept to the timetable he announced last year, his method of leaving has still caused some amount of scepticism in the society among select groups not usually supportive of him. One columnist who is usually objective even asked Mr. Patterson to tell the country why he is really leaving! Mr. Patterson kept his word. Transition from one party leader to another in the PNP has always been carefully thought through. Leaders should always be aware of succession planning and ensure that the climate is provided within which new leaders can emerge.
FROM NORMAN TO MICHAEL MANLEY
When Norman Manley chose to retire in 1969, he first announced his intention to do so at a farewell banquet held in his honour in 1968 at the National Arena. At that time, he told the party that he would step down at a special annual conference to be held the following year. Norman Manley kept his word. The contest then was between Vivian Blake, Q.C., and Michael Manley. This transition from Norman Manley to Michael Manley took place when the party was in Opposition and gave the new leader enough time to prepare for and in this case, win the elections three years later in 1972.
FROM MICHAEL MANLEY TO P.J. PATTERSON
When Michael Manley resigned in 1992, the PNP was in office and the transition was seamless due largely to Mr. Patterson's personality of non-confrontation and his capacity to heal the divisions within the party that resulted from that contest. One of the critical ways in which this was achieved was by ensuring that all the former Cabinet Ministers who supported Portia retained their posts in the Cabinet. This was an amazing feat of leadership for which Mr. Patterson is hardly credited.
Having taken over the leadership while the PNP was in office, Mr. Patterson sought and received his own mandate one year after becoming Party Leader as he called and won the General Election of 1993. He was to continue to win General Elections again in 1997 and 2002 and will probably go down in history as the only Prime Minister to win three successive elections in Jamaica and in the case of the PNP - the only party to win four successive terms in office. After Michael Manley's charismatic approach to leadership, the country appeared to be relieved to have Mr. Patterson's more bureaucratic approach.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson kisses Prime Minister-designate Portia Simpson Miller at the weekly Cabinet meeting following her election as president of the People's National Party on February 25. - JIS PHOTO
FROM P.J. PATTERSON TO PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER
Once again, the country seems to be ready for a charismatic leader. It is not surprising, therefore, that the delegates of the PNP chose Portia Simpson Miller to take over from Mr. Patterson. This was the first time in the history of the PNP that there were more than two contenders for leadership. It is also the first time that a woman is president of the PNP and therefore Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Prime Minister-designate Portia Simpson Miller officially takes over the reins of office on March 30. There are so many considerations to take into account as she names her Cabinet. She will do so with some members who would have already declared that they can no longer serve. This will give her the opportunity to place some people who are known Portia loyalists. As a politician, she will have to ensure that as she organises to heal the divisions in the Party she is simultaneously building her own support in the Cabinet and the Parliamentary group.
It is left to be seen whether she will take advantage of the euphoria that surrounds her election and call General Elections this year to ensure that she has the power of her own mandate.
Beverley Manley is a political scientist and gender specialist. Email: BManley@kasnet.com.
