Dear Editor,

In 2013, if I had been a delegate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) I would’ve voted for Audley Shaw over Andrew Holness even though I was in my early 20s.

I would have voted for him because he was more energetic, genuine, and had a policy-driven platform that could win a general election and reform and unite the party.

Ten years later, Shaw is not the same “Man Ah Yaad” due to health reasons.

By remaining in the Cabinet Shaw is diminishing his legacy. I believe Prime Minister Holness will always name Shaw in his Cabinet to engender party unity and reward his loyalty for coming on board so that the JLP could win the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

In my view, Floyd Green has basically been the de facto minister of transport, ever since he was given direct oversight of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) in July of 2022.

Shaw should know that his time has come to retire because right now he is a mere shadow of himself. As a long-time supporter of Shaw, I don’t want him to be remembered in his current state. He should be remembered as a very energetic politician.

Green should lead that ministry. If not, it should be given to an experienced politician like Daryl Vaz or Horace Chang.

Even though the prime minister has the right to name his Cabinet, he’s not listening to his supporters who are saying that change in needed immediately. I get the sense that Prime Minister Holness is becoming complacent and is not as hungry for the job as he used to be. Or, maybe because the People’s National Party (PNP) is no longer a viable Opposition in his eyes, he’s taking his job for granted.

He needs to energise himself and the party by reshuffling the Cabinet and making changes to the party’s officer core. Prime Minister Holness should have confidence in his own ministers to do the job and give them the spotlight. The perception is that he has been taking the glory away from his ministers.

Shaw is not the only minister who seems to be boxing past his prime instead of exiting the political stage. There are others who should also be on the retirement train.

Teddylee Gray

Ocho Rios, St Ann

teddylee.gray@gmail.com