THE EDITOR, Sir:
WE ARE seeing levels of political turmoil and bloodletting that are unusual, only because they are happening in the PNP, not the JLP. Indeed, we may be seeing democracy at its finest in the upheavals within the ruling party.
We can recall the 2003 JLP conference, at which delegates rebuffed the leader's attempts to coerce them into ratifying his choices for deputy leader.
Is a similar thing happening in the PNP with the election of Portia Simpson-Miller as party leader and Prime Minister? During its internal elections, the betting was that the support of the MPs for any candidate would translate into delegate support. It didn't play as scripted, with many delegates resisting pressure to vote with their MPs. Will this also precipitate other changes in that party? It is an open secret that there is unhappiness among PNP power brokers with the delegates' selection, and perhaps the various resignations and upheavals are an outworking of this.
The PNP and JLP should not forget that power resides in the people. We the people elect representatives of our choosing, and delegate temporary authority to them to act on our behalf and in our interest. They are stewards, not owners of this authority. Our representatives are our servants, not our masters. If they don't like those terms, then they can always decline to stand for election.
I am, etc.,
MICHAEL NILCHOLSON
Kingston 6
