The Editor, Sir:

Your editorial, titled 'Here's an idea, Mr Golding' in Monday's Gleaner, highlighted bold and politically savvy moves by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

You implied that Mr Golding should follow suit; on the face of it, a reasonable suggestion.

See if strategy works

But, similar to the very Westminster parliamentary system in which Mr Brown serves, history has shown that wholesale adoption of British fashion simply does not work in Jamaica.

It would seem first of all prudent that we see if Mr Brown's new strategy bears fruit (apart from the symbolic) before suggesting that it be adopted. That is what I would expect from our prime minister.

Pulling in private sector

Next, we need to examine what Mr Golding has done in the past.

In my recollection, Mr Golding moved to co-opt Don Wehby from the private sector and this was accompanied by much criticism from various quarters (in fairness to your paper, I think you welcomed the move, if not the size of the Cabinet.)

He then sought to engage the private sector in discussions about how to move forward. It seems, Sir, that Mr Golding may well have more right to commendation for this initiative than Mr Brown.

As far as pulling into the mix of political archrivals, whom would you suggest: Dr Omar Davies, Phillip Paulwell ...?

Bear in mind, that while the Blair government had a track record of decent economic growth for a significant period, the same could not reasonably be said of the previous Jamaican government.

So, apart from the symbolism of it, what substance could we expect from such an arrangement?

And in the spirit of political rivalry, so intense as to literally cost thousands of lives, can we honestly expect that such persons as are called upon from the rival party(ies) would seek to build up a government initiative or do everything to tear it down?

Political rivalry

History has shown that service with honour, as seen at Westminster, has not been duplicated at Gordon House or its appendages.

Having said all of this, it is long overdue that we form a bipartisan approach to Jamaica's development, not to weather the immediate turmoil as serious as it is, but for the next 20 years.

It is my recollection that the Planning Institute of Jamaica had initiated such a programme with the support of the prime minister and every effort should be made to get a unified stance behind that project.

Shared idea

History will show whether Mr Brown or Mr Golding did a better job in imple-menting an idea which, I believe, it is more accurate to say they already share.

I am, etc.,

BRUCE W. McKNIGHT

bruce_mcknight@hotmail.com

Canada

Via Go-Jamaica