The Editor, Sir:

Jamaica would not enter Usain Bolt in the 100-metre butterfly or Veronica Campbell-Brown in a weightlifting event at the Olympics. You must have the right person for the right event at the right time.

In thinking about the future leadership of the People's National Party (PNP) and the probability that the party will once again, assume the considerable responsibility of government, one must honestly and critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the two present candidates.

It is a fact that Portia Simpson Miller has now lost two elections in quick succession. In politics, unlike the Olympics, coming second does not count and there are no silver medals!

Strengths and weaknesses

However, Portia, the leader of the Opposition, has many strengths and innate talents which can pay dividends for not only the PNP, but also, importantly, Jamaica.

Portia's strengths, however, do not include what can be described as visionary and executive-management skills. Nevertheless, what an enormous contribution she could make in the critical areas of community resocialisation, family planning, in leading the new initiative of the JAMAL model and the overall need for discipline at every level of the Jamaican society, and the rebuilding of the Jamaican family unit!

For his part, Peter Phillips has a proven record of visionary thinking, careful planning and meticulous monitoring of project execution and review. His portfolio responsibilities of the past have confirmed this. He is not going to excite all the populace, but what we don't need now is anymore populist political excitement.

I submit that what is urgently needed is visionary and focused national management that can anticipate, and deal with, as much as is possible, the global economic hurricanes that at present threaten, and will continue to, threaten, this blessed country of ours.

Time to evaluate

The PNP electorate has now to evaluate, without personal abuse or insult, the two aspirants for political office - not only as president of the PNP, but also potentially as prime minister of Jamaica.

As a member of the PNP for the last 40 years and as an honoured life member of the PNP, I have made my evaluation in favour of Peter Phillips, bearing in mind the present and future interest of the PNP and importantly, the future of all Jamaicans and the children of tomorrow, living in unity in a truly God-blessed island.

After the election, whatever the result, I will remain a PNP supporter.

I am, etc,

FRANK PRINGLE

P.O. box 42

Montego Bay